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Trip from Reading, PA to Rutherford, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

60.2 mi

97 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m

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

Downtown Rutherford, PA, PA

Rutherford, PA

Haneul Trac

Trip Overview

This straightforward 60.2-mile drive from Reading, Pennsylvania to Rutherford, Pennsylvania takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at just $10, it's an economical option for getting between these two Northeast locations. The journey is predominantly highway-focused, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so don't expect many detours or delays. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and direct connection without much fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 38.9 mi 41m
US 222 9.8 mi 12m
I 283 2.8 mi 4m
Penn Avenue 2.6 mi 4m
US 322 1.8 mi 2m
Colonel Howard Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
Derry Street 0.6 mi 1m
Penn Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 38.9 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Rutherford, 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

39 mi · 41 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min
Exit 247 Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on I 283

2.5 mi · 3 min · I 283
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 283

0.2 mi · 30 sec · I 283
Exit 3B-C Toward I 83 North, US 322
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 3C Toward US 322 East: Hershey Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto US 322

1.8 mi · 2 min · US 322
15

Turn left onto Mushroom Hill Road

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Mushroom Hill Road
16

At end of road, turn left onto Grayson Road

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Grayson Road
17

Turn right onto South 63rd Street

0.2 mi · 21 sec · South 63rd Street
18

Turn right onto Derry Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Derry Street
19

Turn left onto North 69th Street

0.2 mi · 53 sec · North 69th Street
20

Turn right onto Somerset Street

173 ft · 13 sec · Somerset Street
21

Turn left onto Rudy Alley

364 ft · 26 sec · Rudy Alley
22

Arrive at destination

Rudy Alley

Where to Stop

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

borough in northeastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Denver, PA

30 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

Adamstown, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Manheim, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.1 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 13.7 and 59 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
8
53.8 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the exit toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 247 Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
7
56.6 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in | I 283

Keep slight right at fork onto I 283 toward I 83 North, US 322

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 3B-C Toward I 83 North, US 322
9
56.8 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 322 East: Hershey

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3C Toward US 322 East: Hershey
6
59 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | Grayson Road

At end of road, turn left onto Grayson Road

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.98 one way

$19.96 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.93 $21.86
premium $4.93 $11.68 $23.35
diesel $5.61 $13.29 $26.58

Estimated Tolls: $5.06

Pennsylvania Turnpike (38.9 mi) $5.06

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$5

Total

$15

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.1 0 $6.32 $2.89
Efficient EV 15.1 0 $5.27 $2.41
EV Truck/SUV 24.1 0 $8.43 $3.85

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 17, 2026

Origin

Reading, PA

Late night in Reading on Sunday

Local time

3:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

W 10 to 15 mph 62% chance Live forecast

Destination

Rutherford, PA

Late night in Rutherford on Sunday

Local time

3:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

61°F

Denver, PA

30 mi in

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

6 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 17m 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?

Expect a highly highway-focused experience on this 60.2-mile journey, with 88% of the drive taking place on major roads. The Pennsylvania Turnpike will be your primary companion for a significant stretch, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 38.9 miles. This means you'll be dealing with consistent speeds and limited access for much of the trip. While the drive is efficient, it's largely characterized by its high-speed nature rather than varied scenery. You'll transition to US 222 and then I-283, maintaining a highway profile throughout.

88% 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: 38.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 13.7 miles in near Colonel Howard Boulevard.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 13.7 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.6 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Rutherford, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Denver and Hershey.

Patp

13.1 mi in | ~18m

Denver

13.1 mi in | ~18m

Hershey

53.8 mi in | ~1h 4m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 60.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $5.06 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.

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 Rutherford, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 13.7 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.6 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. 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 Rutherford, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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