Reading, PA to Slippery Rock, PA is 282.1 miles and takes about 5h 25m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily traverses the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, sticking to surface roads for most of its length. Expect a fairly straightforward drive that's doable in a single day, making it a convenient option for connecting these two points. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on local roads rather than interstates.
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
141 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
194.3 mi
3h 28m
Pottsville Pike
14.4 mi
18m
Locust Gap Highway
11.5 mi
13m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
South Market Street
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
William Flinn Highway
4.5 mi
6m
Continental Boulevard
3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 194.3 mi, about 3h 28m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,072 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,424
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Slippery Rock, PA.
1
Start on US 422 Business Alternate
279 ft·8 sec·Penn Street
2
Turn right onto US 222 BUS
0.5 mi·55 sec·North 5th Street
3
Turn slight left onto PA 61
3.0 mi·4 min·Centre Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on PA 61
4.7 mi·6 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·South Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on PA 61
3.2 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on PA 61
0.6 mi·43 sec·Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on PA 61
2.3 mi·2 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·19 sec·South 4th Street
10
Continue on PA 61
4.2 mi·5 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
13
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
14
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
15
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mauch Chunk Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Centre Street
17
Turn left onto US 209
2.3 mi·4 min·West Market Street
18
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi·2 min·Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi·1 min·East Sunbury Street
20
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi·11 min·Sunbury Road
21
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
22
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi·43 sec·Locust Gap Highway
23
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi·13 min·Locust Gap Highway
24
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·South Market Street
25
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi·45 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
26
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
29
Merge onto I 80
194 mi·3 hr 28 min·Keystone Shortway
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward PA 8: Barkeyville, Franklin - Oil City Area
31
Turn left onto PA 8
2.3 mi·3 min·Pittsburgh Road
32
Continue on PA 8
2.1 mi·3 min·William Flinn Highway
33
Continue on PA 8
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
34
Continue on PA 8
2.4 mi·3 min·William Flinn Highway
35
Turn right onto PA 108
2.9 mi·3 min·Franklin Road
36
Continue on PA 108
0.6 mi·1 min·Franklin Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
37
Turn left onto PA 173
43 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
38
Arrive at destination
PA 173
Trip Plan
Given this is a 5h 25m drive with a $50 fuel estimate, it's comfortably a one-day trip. Aim to depart Reading in the morning to give yourself ample time. You'll have only one planned stop, so plan your breaks around that. Since most of the drive is on surface roads, pay attention to posted speed limits and potential local traffic patterns, especially as you get closer to Slippery Rock. The 194.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway offers a good opportunity for uninterrupted driving before you encounter more frequent intersections.
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 141 miles from Reading, PA, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.3 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 62 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Slippery Rock, 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 282.1 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 Keystone Shortway for about 194.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 282.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 222 BUS / North 5th Street
Turn right onto US 222 BUS / North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
33.8 mi into trip|~43m in|US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Turn left onto US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Navigation decision point
5
72 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
270.2 mi into trip|~5h 5m in
Take the exit toward PA 8: Barkeyville, Franklin - Oil City Area
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 8: Barkeyville, Franklin - Oil City A...
6
282.1 mi into trip|~5h 25m in|PA 173 / South Main Street
Turn left onto PA 173 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.98 one way
$89.96 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$49.78
$99.56
premium
$4.81
$53.40
$106.80
diesel
$4.80
$53.27
$106.53
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Centre Turnpike
(10.6 mi)$0.74
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
$45
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.6
1
$29.62
$13.54
Efficient EV
70.5
0
$24.68
$11.28
EV Truck/SUV
112.8
1
$39.49
$18.05
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Reading, PA
Late night
in Reading on Sunday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 2:51AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 15 at 2:51AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Slippery Rock, PA
Late night
in Slippery Rock on Sunday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 2:51AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 15 at 2:51AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
9 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
5h 25m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 38.9
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only about 5% on highways. You'll experience 194.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which is a significant stretch. After that, expect to transition to local roads like Pottsville Pike and Locust Gap Highway, which often means more varied speed limits and traffic signals. The long highway segment means you'll have extended periods of consistent cruising before hitting more localized travel.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 222 BUS / North 5th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 25m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Frederick Lauer Monument — monument in City Park, Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Centre 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.
Yes — we found about 24 rest areas or service plazas 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.
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. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Slippery Rock, PA before the return drive.
