The drive from Reading, PA to Fairdale, PA covers 256.8 miles and takes about 5h 8m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, University Drive, McClellandtown Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 196.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.57 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
128.4 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 8m. Total distance: 256.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 8m highway drive covering 256.8 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike and University Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 196.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 196.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and University Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in near Colonel Howard Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 256.8 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 13.7 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
13.7 mi into trip|~20m in|Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard toward I 76, PATP
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76, PATP
7
211.8 mi into trip|~3h 58m in
Take the exit toward PA 31, PA 711: Ligonier, Uniontown
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 PA 31, PA 711: Ligonier, Uniontown
6
242 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Take the exit toward PA 21
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward PA 21
6
254.6 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward PA 88 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward PA 88 North
6
256.7 mi into trip|~5h 7m in|Nemacolin Road
Turn sharp left onto Nemacolin Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Reading, PA and Fairdale, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Denver and Uniontown.
Patp
13.1 mi in|~18m
Denver
13.1 mi in|~18m
Uniontown
211.8 mi in|~3h 58m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
196.9 mi
3h 35m
University Drive
10.7 mi
12m
McClellandtown Road
10.5 mi
18m
US 222
9.8 mi
12m
PA 982
8 mi
13m
State Route 31
6 mi
9m
Memorial Boulevard
4 mi
4m
Penn Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 196.9 mi, about 3h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Fairdale, PA.
1
Start on US 422 Business Alternate
0.4 mi·40 sec·Penn Street
2
Continue on US 422 Business Alternate
2.6 mi·4 min·Penn Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
4
Merge onto US 222
9.8 mi·12 min·US 222
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: PA Turnpike, Denver
6
Turn left onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.3 mi·39 sec·Colonel Howard Boulevard
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg
9
Merge onto I 76; PATP
197 mi·3 hr 35 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward PA 31, PA 711: Ligonier, UniontownUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto PA 31
6.0 mi·9 min·State Route 31
12
Continue on PA 31
0.1 mi·15 sec·Three Mile Hill
13
Turn left onto PA 982
8.0 mi·13 min·PA 982
14
Turn left onto US 119
4.0 mi·4 min·Memorial Boulevard
15
Turn straight onto US 119
0.6 mi·39 sec·Blackstone Road
16
Merge onto US 119
0.5 mi·33 sec·Morrell Avenue
17
Turn slight right onto US 119
11 mi·12 min·University Drive
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 21Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
162 ft·7 sec
20
Turn left onto PA 21
10 mi·18 min·McClellandtown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on PA 21
1.6 mi·2 min·Roy E. Furman Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Take the exit
170 ft·8 sec
Toward PA 88 NorthUse the right lane.
23
Turn slight right onto PA 88
2.0 mi·3 min·South Eighty Eight Road
24
Turn right onto Burnett Way
0.1 mi·30 sec·Burnett Way
25
Turn sharp left onto Nemacolin Road
85 ft·4 sec·Nemacolin Road
26
Turn right onto Schroyers Lane
281 ft·12 sec·Schroyers Lane
27
Arrive at destination
Schroyers Lane
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 128.4 miles from Reading, PA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.9 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.4 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairdale, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 256.8 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Reading, 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 196.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.4 mi from Reading, PA
· 2h 27m into the drive
The midpoint is around 128.4 miles from Reading, 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 196.9 miles.
Arriving in Fairdale, PA
The final approach into Fairdale, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fairdale, PA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 185.9
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 239.1
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 35.4
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 159.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.57 one way
$85.15 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$46.63
$93.26
premium
$4.93
$49.80
$99.61
diesel
$5.61
$56.70
$113.40
Estimated Tolls: $25.60
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(196.9 mi)$25.60
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
$43
Tolls
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Blink Charging Station
Carmichaels, Pennsylvania
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Blink
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink: 3
ChargePoint: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77
0
$26.96
$12.33
Efficient EV
64.2
0
$22.47
$10.27
EV Truck/SUV
102.7
1
$35.95
$16.44
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Reading, PA
Afternoon
in Reading on Thursday
Local time
2:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairdale, PA
Afternoon
in Fairdale on Thursday
Local time
2:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Hancock, MD
128 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
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 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 8m 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 Reading, PA to Fairdale, PA covers 256.8 miles and takes about 5h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, University Drive, McClellandtown Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128.4 miles from Reading, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.57 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 256.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.7 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Reading, PA and Fairdale, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Denver and Uniontown.
