Origin
Lower Saucon, PA
Morning in Lower Saucon on Saturday
Local time
11:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lower Saucon, PA to Reading, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
47.6 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lower Saucon, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lower Saucon, PA to Reading, PA covers 47.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 78, Allentown Pike, US 222 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.8 miles on I 78. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lower Saucon, PA to Reading, PA covers 47.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 78 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near I 78.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 4.2 miles (I 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles (US 222): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 78
Merge onto I 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
16 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward US 222 South: Hamilton Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 54A
Toward US 222 South: Hamilton Boulevard
6
29 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 222
Keep slight left at fork onto US 222
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 422 Business / Franklin Street
Turn left onto US 422 Business / Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
South 6th Street
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 78 | 11.8 mi | 15m |
| Allentown Pike | 6 mi | 10m |
| US 222 | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Kutztown Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| West Hamilton Boulevard | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| North 5th Street Highway | 5 mi | 8m |
| Hamilton Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Easton Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 78
— 11.8 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lower Saucon, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Lower Saucon Road
77 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lower Saucon Road
2
Turn right onto Easton Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Easton Road
3
Turn slight right onto Cherry Lane
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Cherry Lane
4
Turn slight right onto PA 412
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hellertown Road
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-78 West
6
Merge onto I 78
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 54A
Toward US 222 South: Hamilton Boulevard
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on US 222
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
West Hamilton Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 222
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Trexlertown Bypass
10
Continue on US 222
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hamilton Boulevard
11
Enter roundabout onto US 222
129 ft
·
1 sec
·
Hamilton Boulevard
12
Continue on US 222
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Hamilton Boulevard
13
Continue on US 222
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Kutztown Road
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 222
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 222
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Enter roundabout onto US 222
110 ft
·
1 sec
·
Allentown Pike
16
Continue on US 222
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Allentown Pike
17
Continue on US 222
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kutztown Road
18
Continue on US 222
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Allentown Pike
19
Enter roundabout onto US 222
97 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allentown Pike
20
Continue on US 222
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Allentown Pike
21
Enter roundabout onto US 222
127 ft
·
5 sec
·
Allentown Pike
22
Continue on US 222
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Allentown Pike
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 222
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Kutztown Road
24
Continue on US 222
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Allentown Pike
25
Continue on US 222 BUS
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Allentown Pike
26
Continue on US 222 BUS
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North 5th Street Highway
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 222 BUS
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
South 5th Street
28
Turn left onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft
·
4 sec
·
Penn Street
31
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.8 mi from Lower Saucon, PA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Lower Saucon, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Reading, PA
The final approach into Reading, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.89 one way
$15.78 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.64 | $17.29 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Reading, PA
Morning in Reading on Saturday
Local time
11:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
56°F
Kutztown, PA
24 mi in
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
31 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
1h 10m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lower Saucon, PA to Reading, PA covers 47.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 78, Allentown Pike, US 222. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.8 miles from Lower Saucon, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.89 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 4.2 miles (I 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles (US 222): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lower Saucon, PA to Reading, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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