Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 53m
Distance
248.9 mi
401 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, PA
S.A. Bond
Reading, PA to Lincoln, PA is 248.9 miles and takes about 4h 53m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, offering a straightforward drive focused on efficient travel. With a 92% highway share, expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. This route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to plan for an overnight stay.
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
124.4 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 219.9 mi | 4h |
| US 222 | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Lincoln Way | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Lincoln Highway | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Penn Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Long Run Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Walnut Street | 1.7 mi | 5m |
| Liberty Way | 1.2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Lincoln, PA.
Start on US 422 Business Alternate
Continue on US 422 Business Alternate
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 222
Take the exit
Turn left onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 30
Turn left onto Lincoln Way
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt
Turn right onto PA 148
Turn left onto 15th Street Bridge
Continue on Liberty Way
Keep slight left at fork onto Liberty Way
At end of road, turn right onto Liberty Way
Turn left onto Scene Ridge Road
Turn right onto Jeffrey Drive
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 53m duration, starting your drive from Reading in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. The longest stretch of 219.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike means you can cover a large segment without needing frequent stops, but it's wise to plan for one fuel or rest break. Consider making your stop around the halfway point of this long stretch to break up the drive. The budget for fuel is estimated at $41, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Reading.
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.
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 55 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.4 miles or 2h 22m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lincoln, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Reading, 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 Reading, PA
This is one driving day of about 248.9 miles and 4h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 124.4 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 219.9 miles.
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 13.1 and 243.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: PA Turnpike, Denver
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard toward I 76, PATP
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 30: Irwin, McKeesport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt / Long Run Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$41.26 one way
$82.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $45.19 | $90.39 |
| premium | $4.93 | $48.27 | $96.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.95 | $109.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $28.59
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
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.7 | 0 | $26.13 | $11.95 |
| Efficient EV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.78 | $9.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.6 | 1 | $34.85 | $15.93 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Reading on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Lincoln on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
54°F
Hancock, MD
124 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
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Memorial
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...
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...
National Battlefield
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...
National Memorial
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.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222. You'll experience a significant stretch of 219.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, providing a consistent, high-speed experience for a substantial portion of your journey. The character is largely about covering distance efficiently, with minimal deviations into slower, local roads. Expect a predictable driving environment suitable for maintaining a steady pace.
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 13.1 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 248.9 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 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Reading, PA and Lincoln, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Denver and Mckeesport.
Patp
Denver
Mckeesport
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 248.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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