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Trip from Quakertown, PA to Reading, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

36.7 mi

59 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Quakertown, PA, PA

Quakertown, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Quakertown to Reading, you are in for a short, direct journey covering 36.7 miles. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 3 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops. You will be traveling entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, moving between two distinct local communities. Because the drive is straightforward, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the need for extensive planning.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Boyertown Pike 8.9 mi 15m
John Fries Highway 7.2 mi 10m
Layfield Road 6 mi 9m
South Reading Avenue 3.2 mi 5m
East Philadelphia Avenue 2.9 mi 6m
West Broad Street 1.6 mi 3m
Big Road 1.4 mi 2m
Perkiomen Avenue 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Boyertown Pike — 8.9 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Quakertown, PA and Reading, PA.

1

Start on PA 313

1.6 mi · 3 min · West Broad Street
2

Continue on PA 663

7.2 mi · 10 min · John Fries Highway
3

Continue on PA 663

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Route 663
4

Continue on PA 663

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Quakertown Avenue
5

Continue on PA 663

0.6 mi · 1 min · Pottstown Avenue
6

Continue on PA 663

6.0 mi · 9 min · Layfield Road
7

At end of road, turn right onto PA 73; PA 663

1.4 mi · 2 min · Big Road
8

Continue on PA 73

2.9 mi · 6 min · East Philadelphia Avenue
9

Turn left onto PA 562

3.2 mi · 5 min · South Reading Avenue
10

Continue on PA 562

8.9 mi · 15 min · Boyertown Pike
11

Continue on PA 562

1.0 mi · 2 min · Saint Lawrence Avenue
12

Turn left onto Oley Turnpike Road

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Oley Turnpike Road
13

Continue on Oley Turnpike Road

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Oley Turnpike Road
14

At end of road, turn right onto US 422 BUS

0.8 mi · 1 min · Perkiomen Avenue
15

Continue on US 422 Business

0.5 mi · 43 sec · Howard Boulevard
16

Continue on US 422 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · Mineral Spring Road
17

Turn slight right onto US 422 Business

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Perkiomen Avenue
18

Continue on US 422 Business Alternate

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Penn Street
19

Arrive at destination

US 422 Business Alternate

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boyertown, PA

18 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

Muhlenberg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gilbertsville, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Quakertown, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

4 of 4

4 decision points cluster between mile 15.8 and 33.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
15.8 mi into trip | ~25m in | PA 73; PA 663 / Big Road

At end of road, turn right onto PA 73; PA 663 / Big Road

Navigation decision point

4
20.2 mi into trip | ~34m in | PA 562 / South Reading Avenue

Turn left onto PA 562 / South Reading Avenue

Navigation decision point

3
33.3 mi into trip | ~57m in | Oley Turnpike Road

Turn left onto Oley Turnpike Road

Navigation decision point

4
33.9 mi into trip | ~59m in | US 422 BUS / Perkiomen Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto US 422 BUS / Perkiomen Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.08 one way

$12.17 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.66 $13.33
premium $4.93 $7.12 $14.23
diesel $5.61 $8.10 $16.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11 0 $3.85 $1.76
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.21 $1.47
EV Truck/SUV 14.7 0 $5.14 $2.35

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Quakertown, PA

Morning in Quakertown on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers

SW 5 to 15 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 7:41AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:13AM EDT by NWS State College PA

Destination

Reading, PA

Morning in Reading on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

SW 10 to 15 mph 23% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 7:41AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:13AM EDT by NWS State College PA

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

2 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

1h 3m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than cruising on autopilot. With only 2% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads like the John Fries Highway, Layfield Road, and Boyertown Pike. The road surface changes frequently as you transition between these smaller routes, requiring your full attention. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch lasts just 8.9 miles along Boyertown Pike. This is not a monotonous interstate grind; instead, it is a technical route that demands consistent navigation through local terrain.

Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.9 mi on Boyertown Pike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 15.8 miles in near PA 73; PA 663 / Big Road.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Quakertown, PA to Reading, PA is easy. At 1h 3m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 15.8 miles (PA 73; PA 663 / Big Road): Navigation decision point; at 20.2 miles (PA 562 / South Reading Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 33.3 miles (Oley Turnpike Road): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

571 ft 242 ft

Total Climb

520 ft

Total Descent

766 ft

Highest Point

571 ft

~2.6 mi in

Elevation Range

328 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Quakertown, PA

Full guide →

Quakertown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Arriving in Reading, PA

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.9 miles on Boyertown Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 15.8 miles (PA 73; PA 663 / Big Road): Navigation decision point; at 20.2 miles (PA 562 / South Reading Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 33.3 miles (Oley Turnpike Road): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Reading, PA before heading back.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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