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Trip from State Line, PA to Reading, PA

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

Drive Time

2h 34m

Distance

125.3 mi

202 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 24m ★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m

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 State Line, PA, PA

State Line, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

State Line, PA to Reading, PA is 125.3 miles and takes about 2h 34m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 81, and US 222, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Northeast region, entirely within Pennsylvania. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip designed for efficient travel between these two points. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, it's an ideal option for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.

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

62.6 miles from State Line, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 60 mi 1h 4m
I 81 42.6 mi 49m
US 222 7.4 mi 9m
US 222 BUS 4.9 mi 8m
Harrisburg Pike 2.1 mi 4m
Molly Pitcher Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Walnut Bottom Road 1 mi 1m
North Hanover Street 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 60 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between State Line, PA and Reading, PA.

1

Start on US 11

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue North
2

Continue on US 11

1.8 mi · 2 min · Molly Pitcher Highway
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
4

Merge onto I 81

43 mi · 49 min · I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 45 Toward College Street Use the slight right lane.
6

Turn left onto Walnut Bottom Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Walnut Bottom Road
7

Turn left onto South West Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South West Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Turn right onto West North Street

0.3 mi · 43 sec · West North Street
9

Turn left onto US 11; PA 34

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Hanover Street
Use the left lane.
10

Continue on US 11

2.1 mi · 4 min · Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 76, PATP Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia Use the slight left lane.
13

Merge onto I 76; PATP

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard
16

Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
18

Merge onto US 222

3.3 mi · 3 min · US 222
19

Continue on US 222

4.1 mi · 5 min · US 222
20

Take the exit onto US 222 BUS

4.9 mi · 8 min · US 222 BUS
Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shillington Use the slight right lane.
21

Turn left onto US 222 BUS

0.4 mi · 47 sec · South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto US 422 Business

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Franklin Street
23

Turn left onto South 6th Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24

Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate

278 ft · 4 sec · Penn Street
25

Arrive at destination

US 422 Business Alternate

Trip Plan

With a duration of just over 2.5 hours, this is a perfectly manageable same-day trip. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and arrive in Reading well before evening. While the 125.3 miles are not overly taxing, the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is 60 miles, so plan for a brief stop before or after this segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $21, and refueling options might be more spaced out on the turnpike itself.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from State Line, PA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60 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 28 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 62.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reading, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving State Line, 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 State Line, PA

This is one driving day of about 125.3 miles and 2h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from State Line, 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 60 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Lemoyne, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lemoyne, PA

63 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.

Popular next leg

Lemoyne, PA to Reading, PA

62.1 mi · 1h 17m

Pacing Suggestions

Hilltown, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lemoyne, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.6 miles from State Line, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60 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.

Spice Restaurant & Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour Moderately mile 62.6

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 2–11 pm

+17176913131

Visit website

The Barn Restaurant at Allenberry

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30 mile 53.7

Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17172583211

Visit website

Gibraltar Park

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 125.3

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 45 and 119.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
45 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward College Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 45 Toward College Street
6
47.1 mi into trip | ~58m in | US 11; PA 34 / North Hanover Street

Turn left onto US 11; PA 34 / North Hanover Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
50.5 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Philadelphia

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
7
111.1 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in

Take the exit toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata

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 US 222: Reading, Ephrata
7
119.7 mi into trip | ~2h 23m in | US 222 BUS

Take the exit onto US 222 BUS toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shillington

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 US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shill...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.77 one way

$41.55 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $22.75 $45.50
premium $4.93 $24.30 $48.60
diesel $5.61 $27.66 $55.33

Estimated Tolls: $7.81

Pennsylvania Turnpike (60 mi) $7.81

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

$21

Tolls

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.6 0 $13.16 $6.01
Efficient EV 31.3 0 $10.96 $5.01
EV Truck/SUV 50.1 0 $17.54 $8.02

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (66% 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 18, 2026

Origin

State Line, PA

Late night in State Line on Sunday

Local time

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Reading, PA

Late night in Reading on Sunday

Local time

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Partly Sunny

SE 5 to 10 mph 2% chance 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

2 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

2h 34m 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

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...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour Free near mile 47.5
View on nps.gov
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...

13 mi from route ~31 min detour Free near mile 90.7
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of it utilizing major roadways. You'll experience the efficiency of the Pennsylvania Turnpike for a significant portion, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 60 miles. The inclusion of I 81 and US 222 ensures a consistent pace for most of the journey. Expect a driving experience characterized by smooth, high-speed travel for the majority of the 125.3 miles.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 125.3 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 45 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.1 miles (US 11; PA 34 / North Hanover Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between State Line, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Ephrata.

Patp

49.9 mi in | ~1h 4m

Ephrata

111.1 mi in | ~2h 11m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 125.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 60 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $7.81 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 Reading, 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 45 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.1 miles (US 11; PA 34 / North Hanover Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. 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 Reading, 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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