Lower Burrell to Reading is 255.7 miles and takes about 4h 56m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. Expect a consistent pace for most of the drive, with minimal need for overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.8 miles from Lower Burrell, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
230.8 mi
4h 12m
US 222
7.4 mi
9m
US 222 BUS
4.9 mi
8m
Logans Ferry Road
2.5 mi
3m
Center Road
2.1 mi
4m
Center New Texas Road
1.4 mi
3m
Saltsburg-Leechburg Road
1.1 mi
1m
New Texas Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 230.8 mi, about 4h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lower Burrell, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on PA 366; PA 56 Truck
347 ft·35 sec·Freeport Street
2
Continue on PA 366; PA 56 Truck
484 ft·12 sec·Freeport Street
3
Continue on Orange Belt
0.8 mi·1 min·Logans Ferry Road
4
Continue on Orange Belt
1.7 mi·2 min·Logans Ferry Road
5
Turn right onto Orange Belt
1.1 mi·1 min·Saltsburg-Leechburg Road
6
Continue on Orange Belt
0.6 mi·1 min·Leechburg Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto Orange Belt
0.8 mi·1 min·New Texas Road
8
Continue on Orange Belt
381 ft·6 sec·Old Leechburg Road
9
Turn slight right onto Orange Belt
0.1 mi·13 sec·New Texas Road
10
Turn right onto Center New Texas Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Center New Texas Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto PA 380; Orange Belt
0.2 mi·25 sec·Saltsburg Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto Orange Belt
2.1 mi·4 min·Center Road
13
Turn slight left onto Orange Belt
0.8 mi·1 min·Orange Belt
14
Continue on PA 48; Orange Belt
0.4 mi·51 sec·Mosside Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn sharp left onto Daugherty Drive
183 ft·12 sec·Daugherty Drive
16
Turn right
421 ft·36 sec
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 76; PATP
231 mi·4 hr 12 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, EphrataUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonel Howard Boulevard
22
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.1 mi·15 sec·Colonel Howard Boulevard
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
24
Merge onto US 222
3.3 mi·3 min·US 222
25
Continue on US 222
4.1 mi·5 min·US 222
26
Take the exit onto US 222 BUS
4.9 mi·8 min·US 222 BUS
Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, ShillingtonUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn left onto US 222 BUS
0.4 mi·47 sec·South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi·16 sec·Franklin Street
29
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft·4 sec·Penn Street
31
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
For this 4h 56m drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to give you ample daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you can afford to be flexible with stops, but plan for at least one break. The majority of your drive will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so keep an eye out for exits for fuel and rest areas. As you get closer to Reading, you'll be on US 222 and its business loop, so be prepared for increased local traffic and more frequent turns.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.8 miles from Lower Burrell, PA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 56 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.8 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reading, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lower Burrell, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lower Burrell, PA
This is one driving day of about 255.7 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Lower Burrell, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 230.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.5 and 255.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.5 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
241.5 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata
6
242.4 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 222 North: Reading
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 222 North: Reading
7
250.1 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|US 222 BUS
Take the exit onto US 222 BUS toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shillington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shill...
6
255.5 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|South 6th Street
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.77 one way
$81.54 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$45.12
$90.24
premium
$4.81
$48.40
$96.80
diesel
$4.80
$48.28
$96.56
Estimated Tolls: $30.01
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(230.8 mi)$30.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Tolls
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.85
$12.27
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.23
EV Truck/SUV
102.3
1
$35.80
$16.36
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lower Burrell, PA
Morning
in Lower Burrell on Sunday
Local time
11:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Smoke
S 5 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:43AM EDT until July 18 at 6:15AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Reading, PA
Morning
in Reading on Sunday
Local time
11:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
S 0 to 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:43AM EDT until July 18 at 6:15AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
83°F
King, PA
128 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 56m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 176.3
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 70.5
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 220.4
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 44.1
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 95% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on limited-access roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 230.8 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After that, you'll transition to US 222 and then US 222 BUS, which will offer a different driving experience with more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you approach Reading.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 255.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,566 ft253 ft
Total Climb
2,146 ft
Total Descent
2,645 ft
Highest Point
2,566 ft
~54.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,313 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lower Burrell, PA to Reading, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Ephrata along the way.
Reading is a historic city of about 95,000 (2020 Census) in Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 35 miles southwest of Allentown and 55 miles east of Harrisburg. It punches above its weight in culture, and its downtown features some iconic buildings, so consider making it a stopover on your way between any of these and other area cities.
Top landmarks
•Frederick Lauer Monument — monument in City Park, Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 255.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 230.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $30.01 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Reading, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Flight 93 National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Reading, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
