The drive from Hermitage, PA to Reading, PA covers 299.3 miles and takes about 5h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, State Route 54, Center Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 219.5 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
149.6 miles from Hermitage, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 42m. Total distance: 299.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 42m drive with frequent turns across 299.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 219.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 62 / East Connelly Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 299.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (US 62 / East Connelly Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 62 / East Connelly Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto US 62 / East Connelly Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward PA 760 South: New Castle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 760 South: New Castle
5
224.5 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
5
224.7 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Turn right onto PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
299.1 mi into trip|~5h 42m in|South 6th Street
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hermitage, PA to Reading, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Washingtonville along the way.
Washingtonville
224.5 mi in|~4h 5m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
219.5 mi
3h 55m
State Route 54
11.1 mi
13m
Center Avenue
10.6 mi
12m
Pottsville Pike
10.2 mi
12m
Elysburg Road
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
Centre Street
4.2 mi
5m
Gordon Nagle Trail
4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 219.5 mi, about 3h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hermitage, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on US 62 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·East State Street
2
Enter roundabout onto US 62
9 ft·0 sec·East Connelly Boulevard
3
Continue on US 62
0.3 mi·39 sec·East Connelly Boulevard
4
Turn slight left onto PA 18
2.8 mi·5 min·South Hermitage Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on PA 18
0.2 mi·22 sec·New Castle Road
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·52 sec
Toward PA 760 South: New CastleUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto PA 760
0.8 mi·49 sec·Beaver Valley Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 80 East: Mercer
9
Merge onto I 80
220 mi·3 hr 55 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
11
Turn slight left
79 ft·2 sec
12
Turn right onto PA 54
2.9 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
14
Continue on PA 54
0.3 mi·49 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
15
Turn left onto PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on PA 54
11 mi·13 min·State Route 54
17
Continue on PA 901
0.4 mi·41 sec·Locust Gap Highway
18
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
19
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi·11 min·Sunbury Road
20
Continue on PA 901
0.8 mi·1 min·Sunbury Street
21
Turn right onto PA 901
1.8 mi·2 min·Pottsville Minersville Highway
22
Turn right onto PA 901
4.0 mi·6 min·Gordon Nagle Trail
23
Continue on PA 901
0.2 mi·33 sec·North Sillyman Street
24
Turn left onto PA 183
0.7 mi·2 min·Pottsville Street
25
Turn right onto PA 61
493 ft·6 sec·Route 61 South
26
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on PA 61
4.2 mi·5 min·Centre Street
28
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·17 sec·South 4th Street
29
Continue on PA 61
2.3 mi·2 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on PA 61
0.6 mi·43 sec·Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on PA 61
3.2 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·North Centre Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
33
Continue on PA 61
4.7 mi·6 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on PA 61
2.8 mi·4 min·Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
35
Continue on PA 61
0.8 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
36
Turn left onto US 422 Business
0.2 mi·27 sec·Franklin Street
37
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
38
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft·4 sec·Penn Street
39
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
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 149.6 miles from Hermitage, PA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 219.5 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 66 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.6 miles or 2h 44m 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 30m
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 Hermitage, 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 Hermitage, PA
This is one driving day of about 299.3 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Hermitage, 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 219.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 149.6 mi from Hermitage, PA
· 2h 44m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 268.3
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.8
1
$31.43
$14.37
Efficient EV
74.8
0
$26.19
$11.97
EV Truck/SUV
119.7
1
$41.90
$19.16
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 15, 2026
Origin
Hermitage, PA
Afternoon
in Hermitage on Friday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Reading, PA
Afternoon
in Reading on Friday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
9 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
5h 42m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hermitage, PA to Reading, PA covers 299.3 miles and takes about 5h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, State Route 54, Center Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.6 miles from Hermitage, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 299.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 62 / East Connelly Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Hermitage, PA to Reading, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Washingtonville along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
