Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 11m
Distance
268 mi
431 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Emsworth, PA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Reading, PA to Emsworth, PA covers 268 miles and takes about 5h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, US 222 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 230.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.43 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
134 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 230.8 mi | 4h 11m |
| Penn-Lincoln Parkway East | 14.2 mi | 19m |
| US 222 | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Ohio River Boulevard | 6.4 mi | 12m |
| Penn Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Colonel Howard Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Penn Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 279 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Emsworth, PA.
Start on US 422 Business Alternate
Continue on US 422 Business Alternate
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 222
Take the exit
Turn left onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 376; US 22
Take the exit
Continue on I 279
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on PA 65
Turn left onto Lowry Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134 miles or 2h 32m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Emsworth, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 268 miles and 5h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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.
A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 134 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 230.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 245.7 and 261.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 279 North: Fort Duquesne Bridge, North Shore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 19, PA 65 North: North Shore, Ohio River Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 19 North, PA 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$44.43 one way
$88.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $48.66 | $97.32 |
| premium | $4.93 | $51.98 | $103.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.17 | $118.34 |
Estimated Tolls: $30.01
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
$44
Tolls
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.4 | 0 | $28.14 | $12.86 |
| Efficient EV | 67 | 0 | $23.45 | $10.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.2 | 1 | $37.52 | $17.15 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Reading on Saturday
Local time
4:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Emsworth on Saturday
Local time
4:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
54°F
Hancock, MD
134 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
268 mi in 5h 11m, mostly highway — 230.8 mi of that is on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 245.7 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 268 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 245.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 260.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Reading, PA and Emsworth, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Monroeville and Pittsburgh.
Patp
Monroeville
Pittsburgh
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 268 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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