How far is Palmyra, PA from Reading, PA?

The driving distance from Palmyra, PA to Reading, PA is about 49.6 miles (79.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 35.2 miles (56.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 59m 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
49.66 mi
00h 59m
Flight
35.16 mi
56.58 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Palmyra.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
35.16 mi
Kilometers
56.58 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.66 mi
Kilometers
79.92 km
Drive Time
00h 59m

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 00h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Reading
Thu, Apr 23, 1:16 AM EDT
Return by in Palmyra
Thu, Apr 23, 2:15 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Palmyra
2026-04-23T00:16
Arrive Reading
Thu, Apr 23, 1:16 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Palmyra
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
Clay
PA

Census-designated place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

From Palmyra
24 mi
00h 29m
To Reading
25.6 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 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 Palmyra and Reading.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Lincoln Street

    20 m · 8 sec · North Lincoln Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    4.4 mi · 7 min · East Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South White Oak Street

    584 ft · 20 sec · South White Oak Street

  4. 4

    Continue on South White Oak Street

    3.4 mi · 6 min · South White Oak Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Horseshoe Pike

    5.6 mi · 9 min · Horseshoe Pike

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward PATP

    1000 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 Toll East: Valley Forge

    2532 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    19.8 mi · 21 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  9. 9

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

    1054 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

    3108 ft · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

    623 ft · 15 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 222 North: Reading

    1468 ft · 36 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    4.1 mi · 6 min

  15. 15

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

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South 5th Street

    2195 ft · 47 sec · South 5th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    550 ft · 17 sec · Franklin Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South 6th Street

    599 ft · 25 sec · South 6th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Penn Street

    85 m · 5 sec · Penn Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Penn Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Palmyra 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
20 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
40.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
19.8 mi · 40%
US 222 North
7.64 mi · 15%
Horseshoe Pike
5.62 mi · 11%
US 222 Business
4.92 mi · 10%
East Main Street
4.38 mi · 9%
South White Oak Street
3.48 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

19.8 mi · 00h 21m

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
00h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.4 mi
35.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clay
00h 29m from Palmyra
Leave By
4:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Palmyra and Sunny near Reading.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 49.6 miles (79.9 km) and usually takes 00h 59m 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?

Clay is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24 miles from Palmyra and 25.6 miles from Reading.

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

The direct path is about 35.2 miles (56.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.4 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 4:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.15 one way or $14.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Palmyra and Sunny near Reading.

Stop Ideas Near Clay

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

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

RAIL

Lancaster station

19 mi away
53 McGovern Avenue
RAIL

Mount Joy

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

Elizabethtown station

32 mi away
South Wilson Avenue at West High Street
RAIL

Parkesburg

40 mi away
W. First and S. Culvert Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Palmyra and Reading. Straight-line distance: 35.16 mi (56.58 km).

Palmyra

#1 Palmyra

Borough in western Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

Population7,528
Coordinates40.3089800, -76.5933000
Altitude139
CountryUnited States
Reading

#2 Reading

The fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population88,217
Coordinates40.3356500, -75.9268700
Altitude93
CountryUnited States
Start: North Lincoln Street (-76.593397, 40.308931)
End: Penn Street (-75.926876, 40.335365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 80 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.75 gal
6.63 L · about $7.15
Round trip
$14.30
3.5 gal · 13.26 L
Estimated CO2
15.6 kg one way
Round trip: 31.1 kg / 69 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $7.15 $14.30
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.05 $16.10
Premium $4.95 $8.67 $17.34
Diesel $5.98 $10.47 $20.93

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 Palmyra and Reading. The current time is 00:16:47.

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.