Stretching 73.6 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Reading to Hampton is a straightforward drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast, you will remain in a consistent regional climate throughout the trek. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of this trip allows for a stress-free travel experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 222
27.2 mi
33m
US 30
25 mi
36m
West Canal Road
5.8 mi
10m
East Berlin Road
3.8 mi
5m
Penn Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Davidsburg Road
2.6 mi
4m
Roosevelt Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Carlisle Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 222
— 27.2 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Hampton, PA.
1
Start on US 422 Business Alternate
0.4 mi·40 sec·Penn Street
2
Continue on US 422 Business Alternate
2.6 mi·4 min·Penn Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
4
Merge onto US 222
25 mi·30 min·US 222
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 222
1.7 mi·2 min·US 222
Toward US 30 West
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
25 mi·36 min·US 30
Toward US 30 West: York
7
Turn right onto Roosevelt Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·Roosevelt Avenue
8
Turn left onto PA 238
1.1 mi·1 min·Church Road
9
Turn right onto PA 74
1.2 mi·1 min·Carlisle Road
10
Turn left onto Davidsburg Road
2.6 mi·4 min·Davidsburg Road
11
Turn slight left onto West Canal Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Canal Road
12
Continue on West Canal Road
5.0 mi·8 min·West Canal Road
13
Turn right onto PA 234
0.8 mi·1 min·East Berlin Road
14
Continue on PA 234
1.1 mi·2 min·East King Street
15
Continue on PA 234
3.0 mi·4 min·East Berlin Road
16
Turn slight left onto Stoney Point Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Stoney Point Road
17
Enter roundabout
120 ft·1 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around local traffic patterns. Since there are zero formal stops scheduled along the 73.6-mile path, be sure to fuel up before you leave Reading to maximize your efficiency. Keep an eye on your navigation when transitioning off the main highway segments onto West Canal Road, as these local connections can sometimes be less intuitive than the major US routes. If you are prone to fatigue, even a quick pull-over during your 1 hour and 48 minute transit can help you stay alert. Planning your pace around the 27.2-mile stretch of US 222 will help you maintain a consistent flow for the majority of the journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.8 miles from Reading, PA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.2 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Reading, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Reading, PA
This is one driving day of about 73.6 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Reading, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 222 for about 27.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 73.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|US 222
Merge onto US 222
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
28.7 mi into trip|~36m in|US 222
Keep slight right at fork onto US 222 toward US 30 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 30 West
5
30.4 mi into trip|~39m in|US 30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30 toward US 30 West: York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 30 West: York
4
59.4 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|Davidsburg Road
Turn left onto Davidsburg Road
Navigation decision point
5
73.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.20 one way
$24.40 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.36
$26.73
premium
$4.93
$14.27
$28.55
diesel
$5.61
$16.25
$32.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.73
$3.53
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.44
$2.94
EV Truck/SUV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Reading, PA
Late night
in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 15 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:20PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:07PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Hampton, PA
Late night
in Hampton on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 48m 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.
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 73.6
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 15.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a highway-focused profile, with about 71% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of US 222, US 30, and West Canal Road as you transition between your starting point and destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 27.2 miles along US 222, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. As you progress, the road shifts from the faster pace of the primary highways to the more localized feel of West Canal Road. Expect a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes direct travel over winding, scenic backroads.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.2 mi on US 222.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 222 and US 30. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near US 222.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 3.3 miles (US 222): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 28.7 miles (US 222): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 30.4 miles (US 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 73.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.2 miles on US 222. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 3.3 miles (US 222): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 28.7 miles (US 222): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 30.4 miles (US 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument 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 Hampton, PA before heading back.
