Reading, PA to South Strabane, PA is 264.3 miles and takes about 5h 8m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 70, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Pennsylvania. Expect a straightforward drive that's almost entirely on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. With a recommended one-day drive, you won't need to worry about overnight stays or extensive planning.
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
132.1 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
212.1 mi
3h 51m
I 70
33.2 mi
46m
US 222
9.8 mi
12m
Penn Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Route 519
2.2 mi
3m
East National Pike
1.6 mi
2m
Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Penn Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 212.1 mi, about 3h 51m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,298 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,579
Quietest
2 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 101 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 South Strabane, 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
212 mi·3 hr 51 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 70
0.4 mi·54 sec·I 70
Toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New StantonUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
33 mi·45 min·I 70
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, Wheeling WV, Columbus OH
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward PA 519: Eighty Four, GlydeUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn sharp left onto PA 519
2.2 mi·3 min·Route 519
14
Turn right onto US 40
1.6 mi·2 min·East National Pike
15
Turn right onto Anderson Drive
0.1 mi·38 sec·Anderson Drive
16
Turn right onto Strabane Drive
30 ft·1 sec·Strabane Drive
17
Arrive at destination
Strabane Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Reading, PA in the morning should get you to South Strabane, PA with plenty of daylight to spare. The $44 fuel cost is a good estimate for planning, but always check current prices. With only one recommended stop, you can be flexible about when and where you take a break. Consider filling up your tank before you leave Reading, as the majority of your drive will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which can sometimes have fewer immediate service areas than other interstates.
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 132.1 miles from Reading, PA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.1 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 58 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.1 miles or 2h 31m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Strabane, 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 264.3 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 212.1 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 13.1 and 260.1 — 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
226.9 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|I 70
Take the exit onto I 70 toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New Stanton
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 I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll:...
6
227.3 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, Wheeling WV, Columbus OH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, W...
7
260.1 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward PA 519: Eighty Four, Glyde
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 PA 519: Eighty Four, Glyde
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.51 one way
$93.03 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$50.86
$101.72
premium
$5.23
$54.38
$108.76
diesel
$6.18
$64.30
$128.59
Estimated Tolls: $27.57
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(212.1 mi)$27.57
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
$47
Tolls
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.3
0
$27.75
$12.69
Efficient EV
66.1
0
$23.13
$10.57
EV Truck/SUV
105.7
1
$37.00
$16.92
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Reading, PA
Morning
in Reading on Sunday
Local time
7:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Mostly Clear then Widespread Frost
N 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 12:51AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:11PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
South Strabane, PA
Morning
in South Strabane on Sunday
Local time
7:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Widespread Frost
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 12:51AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:11PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
40°F
King, PA
132 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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 8m 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.
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...
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 182.3
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 36.5
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 164
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...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 218.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 97% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all your time on major interstates and turnpikes. The longest continuous stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike spans 212.1 miles. After that, you'll transition to I 70, and finally US 222, where you'll encounter more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you approach your destination. This setup suggests a driving experience dominated by highway cruising.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 70. 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 13 significant decision points across 264.3 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 226.9 miles (I 70): 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
2,329 ft253 ft
Total Climb
3,135 ft
Total Descent
2,218 ft
Highest Point
2,329 ft
~188.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,076 ft
Notable High Points
1,656 ft at ~132.1 miles+577 ft prominence
2,329 ft at ~188.8 miles+575 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 South Strabane, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling, New Stanton, Washington and Columbus.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 8m. Total distance: 264.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 212.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $27.57 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 South Strabane, 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 226.9 miles (I 70): 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, Flight 93 National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Strabane, PA before the return drive.
