Origin
Swarthmore, PA
Morning in Swarthmore on Wednesday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
64.2 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA covers 64.2 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Chester Road, North Swarthmore Avenue, Cedar Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.64 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
32.1 miles from Swarthmore, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 11m drive with frequent turns across 64.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Chester Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA is easy. At 1h 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Chester Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Swarthmore Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cedar Lane | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Baltimore Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Baltimore Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Baltimore Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Middletown Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Chester Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Chester Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swarthmore, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Park Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Park Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Chester Road
85 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Chester Road
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Chester Road
269 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Chester Road
4
Exit the roundabout onto North Chester Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chester Road
5
Turn left onto North Swarthmore Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Swarthmore Avenue
6
Turn right onto Cedar Lane
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Cedar Lane
7
Turn left onto East Baltimore Pike
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Baltimore Pike
8
Continue on Baltimore Avenue
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Baltimore Avenue
9
Continue on Baltimore Pike
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Pike
10
Take the exit right
315 ft
·
9 sec
11
Turn right onto North Middletown Road
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
North Middletown Road
12
Continue on South Chester Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Chester Road
13
Turn left onto West Chester Pike
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Chester Pike
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 322 West, US 202 North: King of Prussia, Downingtown
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 322 West, US 202 North: King of Prussia, Downingtown
15
Merge slight left onto West Chester Bypass
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West Chester Bypass
16
Take the exit slight right toward PA 100 North: Exton
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
PA 100 North: Exton
17
Take the exit slight right toward PATP
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
PATP
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 West: Harrisburg
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 76 West: Harrisburg
19
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading
21
Continue on Morgantown Expressway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Morgantown Expressway
22
Keep slight left to continue on US 422 West: Reading
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 422 West: Reading
23
Merge slight left onto West Shore Bypass
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Shore Bypass
24
Take the exit slight left toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue
25
Turn right onto Bingaman Street
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Bingaman Street
26
Continue on Laurel Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Laurel Street
27
Turn left onto South 5th Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
South 5th Street
28
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Franklin Street
29
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South 6th Street
30
Turn left onto Penn Street
279 ft
·
5 sec
·
Penn Street
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.1 miles from Swarthmore, PA, or about 35m into the drive.
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 64.2 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.1 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reading, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Swarthmore, 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 Swarthmore, PA
This is one driving day of about 64.2 miles and 1h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Swarthmore, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.1 mi from Swarthmore, PA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 64.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Swarthmore, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Reading, PA
The final approach into Reading, 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 Reading, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.64 one way
$21.29 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.66 | $23.31 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.45 | $24.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.17 | $28.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.74 | $3.08 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.62 | $2.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.99 | $4.11 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Reading, PA
Morning in Reading on Wednesday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
26 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 11m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA covers 64.2 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Chester Road, North Swarthmore Avenue, Cedar Lane. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.1 miles from Swarthmore, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA is easy. At 1h 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Swarthmore, PA to Reading, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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