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Trip from Reading, PA to Spring, PA

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

Drive Time

6h 16m

Distance

328.5 mi

529 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 4m ★
6 AM
6h 16m
8 AM
6h 41m
10 AM
6h 25m
12 PM
6h 22m
3 PM
6h 26m
5 PM
6h 40m
8 PM
6h 9m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Spring, PA, PA

Spring, PA

Haneul Trac

Trip Overview

Embark on a 328.5-mile journey from Reading, Pennsylvania, to Spring, Pennsylvania, with an estimated drive time of 6 hours and 16 minutes. This route, primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a segment on Pottsville Pike, is best tackled in a single day, given its manageable duration and estimated fuel cost of $54. While it involves 17% highway driving, the overall feel is more of a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting a need for attentive navigation. With just one recommended stop and a longest uninterrupted stretch of 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway, this trip offers a straightforward passage through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania.

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

164.3 miles from Reading, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 204 mi 3h 39m
I 79 36.7 mi 39m
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
PA-98 4.9 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 204 mi, about 3h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

204 mi · 3 hr 39 min · Keystone Shortway
30

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
31

Merge onto I 79

37 mi · 39 min · I 79
32

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward PA 198: Saegertown, Conneautville
33

Turn left onto PA 198

1.8 mi · 3 min · PA-198
34

Turn right onto PA 98

4.9 mi · 8 min · PA-98
35

Turn left onto Springboro Road

4.3 mi · 7 min · Springboro Road
36

Turn right

46 ft · 3 sec
37

Keep slight right at fork

50 ft · 3 sec
38

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

With a total duration of 6 hours and 16 minutes, this drive is well-suited for a single-day adventure. To make the most of your 328.5-mile trip, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic and maximize daylight for navigation. The longest stretch without a major change is 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so plan your single recommended stop accordingly, perhaps midway through this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer, less populated stretches, with an estimated fuel cost of $54 for the journey.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.3 miles from Reading, PA, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204 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 72 miles or 1h 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 164.3 miles or 3h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spring, 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 328.5 miles and 6h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 204 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat of Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bellefonte, PA

164 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

Harrisburg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clearfield, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 164.3 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 204 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Valenza Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 305

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18147241222

Visit website

Gibraltar Park

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 328.5 — 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
317.3 mi into trip | ~5h 56m in

Take the exit toward PA 198: Saegertown, Conneautville

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

Toward PA 198: Saegertown, Conneautville
5
328.5 mi into trip | ~6h 16m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.46 one way

$108.92 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 115 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $59.65 $119.29
premium $4.93 $63.71 $127.42
diesel $5.61 $72.53 $145.06

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

$54

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 114.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 98.6 1 $34.49 $15.77
Efficient EV 82.1 0 $28.74 $13.14
EV Truck/SUV 131.4 1 $45.99 $21.02

Gas CO2

115 kg

EV CO2

38 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 Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Reading, PA

Night in Reading on Saturday

Local time

10:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Partly Sunny

NW 10 mph 14% chance Live forecast

Destination

Spring, PA

Night in Spring on Saturday

Local time

10:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

12 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

6h 16m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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

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...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 45.3
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a drive with a pronounced 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter more frequent directional changes than on a pure interstate cruise. Only 17% of this route is on highways, so be prepared for a journey that emphasizes navigating through local roads and state routes. The longest continuous segment you'll experience is 204 miles along the Keystone Shortway, offering a substantial stretch of consistent driving before potential shifts in road type. This character suggests a drive that keeps you engaged with your surroundings rather than a monotonous highway grind.

Only 17% 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: 204 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 222 BUS / North 5th Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 328.5 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 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.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

2,093 ft 253 ft

Total Climb

3,303 ft

Total Descent

2,329 ft

Highest Point

2,093 ft

~187.7 mi in

Elevation Range

1,840 ft

Notable High Points

995 ft at ~46.9 miles +500 ft prominence
1,478 ft at ~117.3 miles +705 ft prominence

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 16m. Total distance: 328.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 204 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.

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 Spring, 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 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 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Spring, PA before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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