This 191.3-mile journey from Reading, PA to Riverside, PA is designed for a single day of travel, estimated to take around 3 hours and 51 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused drive, 80% of the route utilizes major roadways, including a significant 141.4-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this trip is budget-friendly for a day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on the open road, making it a straightforward drive through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. Consider this a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B.
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
95.6 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
141.4 mi
2h 33m
Clear Shade Drive
10.5 mi
14m
Eichler Road
10.5 mi
15m
US 222
9.8 mi
12m
Eisenhower Boulevard
4.6 mi
9m
Quaker Valley Road
3.8 mi
5m
Penn Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
I 99
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 141.4 mi, about 2h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Riverside, 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
9.8 mi·12 min·US 222
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: PA Turnpike, Denver
6
Turn left onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.3 mi·39 sec·Colonel Howard Boulevard
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg
9
Merge onto I 76; PATP
141 mi·2 hr 33 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Altoona, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·42 sec·Business 220
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
14
Merge onto I 99; US 220
2.4 mi·2 min·I 99; US 220
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward PA 56: Johnstown, Cessna
16
Turn straight onto PA 56
3.8 mi·5 min·Quaker Valley Road
17
Continue on PA 56
10 mi·15 min·Eichler Road
18
Continue on PA 56
11 mi·14 min·Clear Shade Drive
19
Continue on PA 56
1.8 mi·3 min·Scalp Avenue
20
Turn left onto Eisenhower Boulevard
4.6 mi·9 min·Eisenhower Boulevard
21
Turn sharp right onto Southview Avenue
58 ft·2 sec·Southview Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Southview Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 51-minute duration, this route is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip. You'll only need one scheduled stop for the entire 191.3 miles, so plan your departure to maximize daylight. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 141.4-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. The $32 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic and enjoy a more relaxed drive.
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 95.6 miles from Reading, PA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.4 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 42 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.6 miles or 1h 50m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, 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.
+
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 191.3 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Reading, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 141.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.1 and 157 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.1 mi into trip|~18m in
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
Toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: PA Turnpike, Denver
6
13.7 mi into trip|~20m in|Colonel Howard Boulevard
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
Toward I 76, PATP
7
156.2 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
6
156.8 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
7
157 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.72 one way
$63.43 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$34.74
$69.47
premium
$4.93
$37.10
$74.20
diesel
$5.61
$42.24
$84.47
Estimated Tolls: $18.38
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(141.4 mi)$18.38
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
$32
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.4
0
$20.09
$9.18
Efficient EV
47.8
0
$16.74
$7.65
EV Truck/SUV
76.5
0
$26.78
$12.24
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Reading, PA
Afternoon
in Reading on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Riverside, PA
Afternoon
in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
34 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
3h 51m 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...
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 184.7
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...
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 184.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-intensive experience on this route, with 80% of the drive on major roads. The bulk of your travel will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which forms the longest continuous stretch at 141.4 miles. After leaving the turnpike, you'll transition to local roads like Clear Shade Drive and Eichler Road, offering a change of pace but still keeping the drive predominantly focused on efficient travel. This blend means you'll experience the ease of highway speeds for most of the trip, with brief encounters with more local thoroughfares.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Clear Shade Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 191.3 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 156.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,493 ft253 ft
Total Climb
3,180 ft
Total Descent
2,206 ft
Highest Point
2,493 ft
~177.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,240 ft
Notable High Points
1,823 ft at ~136.6 miles+747 ft prominence
2,493 ft at ~177.6 miles+1,265 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Reading, PA and Riverside, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Denver, Altoona, Johnstown and Cessna.
Patp
13.1 mi in|~18m
Denver
13.1 mi in|~18m
Altoona
156.2 mi in|~2h 56m
Johnstown
156.2 mi in|~2h 56m
Cessna
159.6 mi in|~3h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 191.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.38 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Riverside, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 156.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Riverside, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
