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Trip from Reading, PA to King, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

171.4 mi

276 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 5m ★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 10m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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title given to the name of a male monarch

King, PA

Oscar Rockr

Trip Overview

The drive from Reading, PA to King, PA covers 171.4 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 222, I 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 141.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.42 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

85.7 miles from Reading, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 141.4 mi 2h 33m
US 222 9.8 mi 12m
I 99 9.5 mi 10m
William Penn Road 3.7 mi 5m
Penn Avenue 2.6 mi 4m
Colonel Howard Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
Penn Street 0.4 mi <1m
Business 220 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 141.4 mi, about 2h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and King, 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

141 mi · 2 hr 33 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward Altoona, Johnstown Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn left onto US 220 BUS

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Business 220
12

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
14

Merge onto I 99; US 220

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 99; US 220
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 59 sec
Toward Blue Knob State Park
16

Turn left

0.1 mi · 15 sec
17

Continue on Sarah Furnace Road

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Sarah Furnace Road
18

Turn right onto William Penn Road

3.7 mi · 5 min · William Penn Road
19

Turn right onto Hickory Lane

213 ft · 9 sec · Hickory Lane
20

Arrive at destination

Hickory 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 85.7 miles from Reading, PA, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.4 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 38 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 85.7 miles or 1h 39m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near King, 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 171.4 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 141.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Lurgan, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lurgan, PA

86 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

Hershey, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lurgan, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.7 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 141.4 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Indian Echo Caverns

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 49

Hummelstown, Pennsylvania

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17175668131

Visit website

Gibraltar Park

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 13.1 and 157 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
13.1 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: PA Turnpike, Denver

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

Toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: PA Turnpike, Denver
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
156.2 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in

Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown

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 Altoona, Johnstown
6
156.8 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in

Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
7
157 mi into trip | ~2h 58m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.42 one way

$56.83 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $31.12 $62.24
premium $4.93 $33.24 $66.48
diesel $5.61 $37.84 $75.69

Estimated Tolls: $18.38

Pennsylvania Turnpike (141.4 mi) $18.38

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

$28

Tolls

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 60 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.4 0 $18.00 $8.23
Efficient EV 42.9 0 $15.00 $6.86
EV Truck/SUV 68.6 0 $24.00 $10.97

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (67% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Reading, PA

Afternoon in Reading on Saturday

Local time

2:16 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

King, PA

Afternoon in King on Saturday

Local time

2:16 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°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

11 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

3h 16m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

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...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free near mile 76.8
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail

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...

13 mi from route ~31 min detour Free near mile 35.5
View on nps.gov
Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 171.4
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

19 mi from route ~49 min detour Free near mile 159.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

171.4 mi in 3h 16m, mostly highway — 141.4 mi of that is on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 171.4 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 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.2 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 Reading, PA and King, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Denver, Altoona and Johnstown.

Patp

13.1 mi in | ~18m

Denver

13.1 mi in | ~18m

Altoona

156.2 mi in | ~2h 56m

Johnstown

156.2 mi in | ~2h 56m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 171.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 141.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $18.38 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 King, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Johnstown Flood National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at King, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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