Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
47.5 mi
76 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tower City, PA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Reading, PA to Tower City, PA covers 47.5 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bernville Road, US 209, William Penn Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.6 miles on Bernville Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 47.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 47.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (US 422 / West Shore Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward US 422 West: Lebanon
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 422 / West Shore Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 183: Bernville Road, Strausstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the ramp toward I 78 West, US 22 West: Harrisburg
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward PA 501: Bethel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Reading, PA to Tower City, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Strausstown along the way.
Strausstown
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bernville Road | 14.6 mi | 23m |
| US 209 | 6.6 mi | 10m |
| William Penn Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Lancaster Avenue | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Bethel Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| I 81 | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| US 222 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Tremont Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Tower City, PA.
Start on US 422 Business Alternate
Continue on US 422 Business Alternate
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 422
Continue on US 222
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 183
Continue on PA 183
Continue on PA 183
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 501
Continue on PA 501
At end of road, turn left onto PA 895
Continue on PA 895
At end of road, turn right onto PA 443
Continue on PA 125
Turn left onto Molleystown Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 209
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.8 mi from Reading, PA · 36m 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Tower City, 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.
Regular Gas
$7.87 one way
$15.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.62 | $17.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.21 | $18.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 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 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Reading on Saturday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Tower City on Saturday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Sunny
69°F
Richland, PA
24 mi in
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
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.
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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