Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
57.5 mi
93 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glenolden, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 57.5 miles, this journey from Reading to Glenolden is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to budget roughly $10 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. The route keeps you entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, transitioning from the Reading area toward the suburban landscape near Glenolden. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a practical connection between these two points.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 20.7 mi | 22m |
| Morgantown Expressway | 11.4 mi | 12m |
| Darby Paoli Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Sproul Road | 3 mi | 6m |
| West Woodland Avenue | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Lancaster Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| West Shore Bypass | 2 mi | 2m |
| Newtown Street Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Glenolden, PA.
Start on US 422 Business Alternate
Turn left onto South 4th Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 222 BUS
Continue on US 222 Business
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 422
Take the exit
Continue on I 176
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 29
Continue on PA 29
Turn left onto US 30
Turn right onto Darby Road
Turn right onto PA 252
Continue on PA 252
Turn left onto PA 3
Turn slight right onto Springfield Road
Continue on PA 320
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 320
Turn left onto PA 420
Continue on PA 420
Turn left onto Macdade Boulevard
Turn right onto West South Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 13
Turn right onto East Boon Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.8 miles from Reading, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward US 422 East: Pottstown, Morgantown
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 176 South: Morgantown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 29: Phoenixville, Malvern
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto US 13 / Chester Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.53 one way
$19.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.44 | $20.88 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.70 | $25.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.04 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.05 | $3.68 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Glenolden on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate this 57.5-mile path. You will spend about 56% of your time on highways, utilizing a combination of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Morgantown Expressway, and Darby Paoli Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, where you can settle in for 20.7 miles of highway cruising. As you progress, the road shifts from the faster, more industrial pace of the turnpike to the more localized feel of the Darby Paoli Road. It is a functional route that balances higher-speed highway segments with the necessary transition to local roads as you approach your destination.
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 1 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
986 ft
Total Descent
1,145 ft
Highest Point
913 ft
~12.3 mi in
Elevation Range
819 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Reading, PA to Glenolden, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Malvern along the way.
Malvern
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.
Founded 1894
Delaware County is in Pennsylvania, United States of America.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 57.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Reading, PA or browse trips ending in Glenolden, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
