How far is Harrisburg, PA from West Reading, PA?

The driving distance from Harrisburg, PA to West Reading, PA is about 60.8 miles (97.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 49.5 miles (79.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
60.75 mi
01h 17m
Flight
49.55 mi
79.74 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Harrisburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
49.55 mi
Kilometers
79.74 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
60.75 mi
Kilometers
97.76 km
Drive Time
01h 17m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Reading
Thu, Apr 23, 6:26 AM EDT
Return by in Harrisburg
Thu, Apr 23, 7:44 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Harrisburg
2026-04-23T05:08
Arrive West Reading
Thu, Apr 23, 6:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:18 AM to 11:18 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Harrisburg
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Cornwall
PA

Borough in southern Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

From Harrisburg
30.3 mi
00h 38m
To West Reading
30.4 mi
00h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NW
Destination
71°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Harrisburg and West Reading.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg and West Reading.

  1. 1

    Start on North 7th Street

    27 m · 3 sec · North 7th Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North 7th Street

    64 m · 7 sec · North 7th Street

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto North 7th Street

    2223 ft · 1 min · North 7th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Fisher Plaza

    820 ft · 20 sec · Fisher Plaza

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on State Street

    2769 ft · 1 min · State Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North 13th Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North 13th Street

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1346 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport, Lancaster

    2242 ft · 55 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    2.7 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia

    1.1 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    38.7 mi · 42 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata

    1054 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

    3108 ft · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

    623 ft · 15 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on US 222 North: Reading

    1468 ft · 36 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    6.7 mi · 9 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 422 West, US 422 Business: Lebanon, Pennsylvania Avenue

    1414 ft · 48 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Penn Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Penn Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South 5th Avenue

    773 ft · 24 sec · South 5th Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Chestnut Street

    36 m · 5 sec · Chestnut Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Chestnut Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Harrisburg and West Reading.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
38.7 mi · 64%
US 222 North
10.2 mi · 17%
North 13th Street
3.52 mi · 6%
I 283 South
3.13 mi · 5%
Penn Avenue
1.72 mi · 3%
Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.71 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

38.7 mi · 00h 42m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 17m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.3 mi
49.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cornwall
00h 38m from Harrisburg
Leave By
3:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Harrisburg and Sunny near West Reading.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Harrisburg to West Reading?

The road trip is about 60.8 miles (97.8 km) and usually takes 01h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cornwall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 30.3 miles from Harrisburg and 30.4 miles from West Reading.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 49.5 miles (79.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.74 one way or $17.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 19 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Harrisburg and Sunny near West Reading.

Stop Ideas Near Cornwall

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cornwall, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cornwall.

RAIL

Mount Joy

20 mi away
East Henry St. and North Market St.
RAIL

Elizabethtown station

23 mi away
South Wilson Avenue at West High Street
RAIL

Lancaster station

26 mi away
53 McGovern Avenue
RAIL

Middletown

29 mi away
Union Street and Mill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Harrisburg and West Reading. Straight-line distance: 49.55 mi (79.74 km).

Harrisburg

#1 Harrisburg

The capital of Pennsylvania.

Population49,322
Coordinates40.2737000, -76.8844200
Altitude101
CountryUnited States
West Reading

#2 West Reading

Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Population4,294
Coordinates40.3337000, -75.9474300
Altitude98
CountryUnited States
Start: Harrisburg (-76.88442, 40.2737)
End: West Reading (-75.94743, 40.3337)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 98 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.14 gal
8.11 L · about $8.74
Round trip
$17.49
4.28 gal · 16.22 L
Estimated CO2
19 kg one way
Round trip: 38 kg / 84 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $8.74 $17.49
Mid-grade $4.60 $9.84 $19.68
Premium $4.95 $10.60 $21.20
Diesel $5.98 $12.80 $25.59

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Harrisburg and West Reading. The current time is 05:08:43.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.