Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Orwell, PA to Reading, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 29m
Distance
153.7 mi
247 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
8 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 17m
★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 53m
8 PM
3h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orwell, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 159.8-mile drive from Orwell, PA, to Reading, PA, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on local roads like Golden Mile Road, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, and South Main Street, with no highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $26, and you can expect one stop along the way. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local experience, offering a straightforward, unhurried trip within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. This route is ideal if you're looking for a direct and manageable day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.9 miles from Orwell, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 220 | 36.4 mi | 41m |
| PA 42 | 15.3 mi | 22m |
| State Route 54 | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| Center Avenue | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Pottsville Pike | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Elysburg Road | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| PA 187 | 9.3 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
US 220
— 36.4 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orwell, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Orwell Hill Road
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Orwell Hill Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto PA 187
9.3 mi
·
13 min
·
PA 187
3
Take the ramp
121 ft
·
4 sec
4
Merge onto US 6
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Golden Mile Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
6
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 220
36 mi
·
41 min
·
US 220
8
Continue on PA 42
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
PA 42
9
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 42
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
PA 42
10
Turn slight right onto PA 42
265 ft
·
9 sec
·
PA 42
11
Continue on PA 118; PA 42
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
PA 118; PA 42
12
Turn right onto PA 42
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
PA 42
13
At end of road, turn left onto PA 42
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 42
14
Continue on PA 42
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
North State Street
15
Turn right onto PA 254
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Rohrsburg Road
16
Continue on PA 254
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Jerseytown Road
17
Turn left onto PA 44; PA 642
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Danville Road
18
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 642
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Danville Road
19
Continue on PA 642
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Jerseytown Road
20
Turn left onto PA 54
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Factory Street
22
Continue on PA 54
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
23
Turn left onto PA 54
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on PA 54
11 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 54
25
Continue on PA 901
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
26
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
27
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Sunbury Road
28
Continue on PA 901
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Sunbury Street
29
Turn right onto PA 901
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Minersville Highway
30
Turn right onto PA 901
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Gordon Nagle Trail
31
Continue on PA 901
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Sillyman Street
32
Turn left onto PA 183
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Street
33
Turn right onto PA 61
493 ft
·
6 sec
·
Route 61 South
34
Continue on PA 61
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Continue on PA 61
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Centre Street
36
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
South 4th Street
37
Continue on PA 61
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Continue on PA 61
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Continue on PA 61
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
40
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Centre Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
41
Continue on PA 61
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
42
Continue on PA 61
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
43
Continue on PA 61
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
44
Turn left onto US 422 Business
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Franklin Street
45
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
46
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft
·
4 sec
·
Penn Street
47
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3-hour and 18-minute duration for this 159.8-mile trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever is most convenient. Factor in the $26 fuel cost and plan for one stop to break up the drive. Since it's a local, turn-heavy route, keep an eye on your GPS and be prepared for changes in speed limits and road conditions. A good tip for this specific journey is to ensure you have a full tank of gas before departing Orwell, PA, as the lack of highway driving means fewer immediate opportunities for refueling along the most direct path.
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 76.9 miles from Orwell, PA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 34 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.9 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
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 Orwell, 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 Orwell, PA
This is one driving day of about 153.7 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Orwell, 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 US 220 for about 36.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.9 miles from Orwell, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Gibraltar Park
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~12 min detour
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
mile 153.7
Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 11 and 153.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 6 / Golden Mile Road
Merge onto US 6 / Golden Mile Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
67.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
PA 42 / State Route 42
At end of road, turn left onto PA 42 / State Route 42
Navigation decision point
5
80.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Turn left onto PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
153.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
|
South 6th Street
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.48 one way
$50.96 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $27.91 | $55.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $29.81 | $59.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.94 | $67.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
8 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Reading, PA Rechargery Relay @ Wawa - N 11th St.
Reading, PA
IONNA
10 DCFC
Wawa - Tesla Supercharger
Hamburg, PA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Wawa - Tesla Supercharger
Reading, PA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Twin Pine Ford of Hamburg
Hamburg, PA
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Tom Masano Ford
Shillington, PA
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
City of Reading
Reading, PA
EVGATEWAY
2 DCFC
BOB FISHER CHEVROLET INC
Reading, PA
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Piazza Auto - Reading Honda
Reading, PA
Blink Network
1 DCFC
Tesla: 2
FORD_CHARGE: 2
EV Connect: 1
IONNA: 1
EVGATEWAY: 1
Blink Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.14 | $7.38 |
| Efficient EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.45 | $6.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.5 | 0 | $21.52 | $9.84 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Origin
Orwell, PA
Morning in Orwell on Sunday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Rain And Snow Showers
NW 9 to 13 mph
76% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 3:52AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:11AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Reading, PA
Morning in Reading on Sunday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Rain Showers
N 10 to 20 mph
99% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 3:52AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:11AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
10 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
3h 29m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 126.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 159.8-mile journey, as the highway share is 0%. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including Golden Mile Road, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, and South Main Street, rather than a continuous highway stretch. Without a significant highway component, the pace will be dictated by local traffic and road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent changes in direction and speed, making it an engaging, albeit not fast-paced, driving experience.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 220 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11 miles in near US 6 / Golden Mile Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 153.7 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 11 miles (US 6 / Golden Mile Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.2 miles (PA 42 / State Route 42): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 153.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Orwell, PA to Reading, PA covers 153.7 miles and takes about 3h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 220, PA 42, State Route 54. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.9 miles from Orwell, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 153.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 11 miles (US 6 / Golden Mile Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.2 miles (PA 42 / State Route 42): Navigation decision point.
The route from Orwell, PA to Reading, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Reading, PA
More trips to Reading, PA
Explore more options from Orwell, PA or browse trips ending in Reading, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.