How far is Hickory, PA from Reading, PA?

The driving distance from Hickory, PA to Reading, PA is about 280.5 miles (451.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 230.8 miles (371.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
280.48 mi
04h 37m
Flight
230.83 mi
371.49 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hickory.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
230.83 mi
Kilometers
371.49 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
280.48 mi
Kilometers
451.39 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 04h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Reading
Thu, Apr 16, 1:42 AM EDT
Return by in Hickory
Thu, Apr 16, 6:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hickory
2026-04-15T21:05
Arrive Reading
Thu, Apr 16, 1:42 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:38 AM to 12:38 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:44 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hickory
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Valley-Hi
PA

Borough of Pennsylvania

From Hickory
137 mi
02h 18m
To Reading
143.5 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 PM EDT
Wind
14 mph SW
Destination
90°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hickory and Reading.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    2506 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Westland Road

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Westland Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Western Avenue

    4.2 mi · 7 min · Western Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Pike Street

    103 m · 11 sec · West Pike Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1534 ft · 31 sec · South Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Hill Church Houston Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Hill Church Houston Road

  7. 7

    Turn right

    4.1 mi · 7 min

  8. 8

    Turn slight right

    42 m · 3 sec

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    31 m · 2 sec

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout

    134 m · 9 sec

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Brownlee Road

    57 m · 4 sec · Brownlee Road

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Brownlee Road

    3.6 mi · 9 min · Brownlee Road

  13. 13

    Take the ramp left

    725 ft · 18 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    29.7 mi · 41 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh

    2490 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg

    2088 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    212.3 mi · 3 hr 52 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  18. 18

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

    1054 ft · 36 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

    3108 ft · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

    623 ft · 15 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on US 222 North: Reading

    1468 ft · 36 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    4.1 mi · 6 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shillington

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  25. 25

    Turn left onto South 5th Street

    2195 ft · 47 sec · South 5th Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    550 ft · 17 sec · Franklin Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto South 6th Street

    599 ft · 25 sec · South 6th Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Penn Street

    85 m · 5 sec · Penn Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Penn Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hickory and 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
29 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
212 mi · 76%
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
29.7 mi · 11%
US 222 North
7.64 mi · 3%
US 222 Business
4.92 mi · 2%
Western Avenue
4.16 mi · 1%
Brownlee Road
3.77 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

212 mi · 03h 52m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.7 mi
230.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Valley-Hi
02h 18m from Hickory
Leave By
7:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Hickory and Mostly Sunny near Reading.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hickory to Reading?

The road trip is about 280.5 miles (451.4 km) and usually takes 04h 37m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Valley-Hi is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137 miles from Hickory and 143.5 miles from Reading.

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

The direct path is about 230.8 miles (371.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.7 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.45 one way or $80.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Hickory and Mostly Sunny near Reading.

Stop Ideas Near Valley-Hi

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Valley-Hi, 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 Valley-Hi.

BUS

Hancock, MD

37 mi away
434 East Main Street
RAIL

Huntingdon

53 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Altoona Transportation Center

57 mi away
1231 11th Avenue
BUS

Hagerstown, MD

59 mi away
123 West Franklin Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hickory and Reading. Straight-line distance: 230.83 mi (371.49 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Hickory

Census-designated place in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States

Population2,373
Coordinates40.2989600, -80.3086700
Altitude399
CountryUnited States
Reading

#2 Reading

The fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population88,217
Coordinates40.3356500, -75.9268700
Altitude93
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-80.30874, 40.299114)
End: Penn Street (-75.926876, 40.335365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 451 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.9 gal
37.47 L · about $40.45
Round trip
$80.90
19.8 gal · 74.94 L
Estimated CO2
88 kg one way
Round trip: 176 kg / 388 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $40.45 $80.90
Mid-grade $4.60 $45.53 $91.06
Premium $4.95 $49.04 $98.09
Diesel $5.98 $59.20 $118.40

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Hickory and Reading. The current time is 21:05:10.

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.