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Trip from Prospect Park, 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 24m

Distance

57.2 mi

92 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m

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

borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States

Prospect Park, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Prospect Park to Reading is 57.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via Pennsylvania Turnpike and Morgantown Expressway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads to expressways. It's a straightforward journey, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 21.1 mi 22m
Morgantown Expressway 11.3 mi 12m
Darby Paoli Road 3.7 mi 6m
Sproul Road 3 mi 6m
Woodland Avenue 2.3 mi 5m
East Lancaster Avenue 2.1 mi 4m
West Shore Bypass 1.9 mi 2m
Newtown Street Road 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 21.1 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Prospect Park, PA and Reading, PA.

1

Start on Maryland Avenue

425 ft · 20 sec · Maryland Avenue
2

Turn right onto PA 420

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Avenue
3

Continue on PA 420

1.3 mi · 2 min · Kedron Avenue
4

Continue on PA 420

2.3 mi · 5 min · Woodland Avenue
5

Turn right onto PA 320

3.0 mi · 6 min · Sproul Road
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn straight onto Springfield Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Springfield Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Turn left onto PA 3

1.5 mi · 3 min · West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Turn right onto PA 252

1.6 mi · 2 min · Newtown Street Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on PA 252

3.7 mi · 6 min · Darby Paoli Road
10

Turn left onto Darby Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Darby Road
11

At end of road, turn left onto US 30

2.1 mi · 4 min · East Lancaster Avenue
12

Turn right onto PA 29

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Morehall Road
13

Continue on PA 29

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Morehall Road
14

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward PATP Toll, I 76 Toll: Valley Forge, Harrisburg Use the right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg Use the slight left lane.
16

Merge onto I 76; PATP

21 mi · 22 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 298 Toward I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading Use the slight right lane.
18

Continue on I 176

11 mi · 12 min · Morgantown Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 11B Toward US 422 West: Reading
20

Merge onto US 422

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Shore Bypass
Toward US 422 West: Reading
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22

Turn right onto US 222 BUS

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Bingaman Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Continue on US 222 BUS

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Laurel Street
Use the left lane.
24

Turn left onto US 222 BUS

0.4 mi · 47 sec · South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
25

Turn right onto US 422 Business

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Franklin Street
26

Turn left onto South 6th Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
27

Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate

278 ft · 4 sec · Penn Street
28

Arrive at destination

US 422 Business Alternate

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Frazer, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Frazer, PA

29 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

Radnor, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chester Springs, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Prospect Park, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 19.6 and 55.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
19.6 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the ramp toward PATP Toll, I 76 Toll: Valley Forge, Harrisburg

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward PATP Toll, I 76 Toll: Valley Forge, Harr...
7
19.9 mi into trip | ~39m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg
8
41.6 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 298 Toward I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading
6
53.3 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 422 West: Reading

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 11B Toward US 422 West: Reading
6
55.8 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.48 one way

$18.97 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.39 $20.77
premium $4.93 $11.09 $22.19
diesel $5.61 $12.63 $25.26

Estimated Tolls: $2.74

Pennsylvania Turnpike (21.1 mi) $2.74

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Tolls

$3

Total

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.2 0 $6.01 $2.75
Efficient EV 14.3 0 $5.01 $2.29
EV Truck/SUV 22.9 0 $8.01 $3.66

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Prospect Park, PA

Afternoon in Prospect Park on Saturday

Local time

1:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Reading, PA

Afternoon in Reading on Saturday

Local time

1:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

46°F

Frazer, PA

29 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

19 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

1h 24m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This route offers a mixed drive, with 57% of it on highways. You'll experience stretches of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including one uninterrupted segment of 21.1 miles. The drive begins on local roads like Darby Paoli Road before merging onto the faster Morgantown Expressway and the turnpike. This blend means you'll encounter both quicker highway travel and more winding sections as you navigate between different road types.

57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 19.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.2 miles you will encounter 20 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 19.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Prospect Park, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Patp Toll and Harrisburg.

Patp Toll

19.6 mi in | ~39m

Harrisburg

19.6 mi in | ~39m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 57.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.74 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.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 19.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). 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 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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