How far is Reading, PA from McDonald, PA?

The driving distance from Reading, PA to McDonald, PA is about 276.3 miles (444.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 226.8 miles (365 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 54m 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
276.34 mi
05h 27m
Flight
226.82 mi
365.03 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Reading.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
226.82 mi
Kilometers
365.03 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
276.34 mi
Kilometers
444.72 km
Drive Time
05h 27m

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 05h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in McDonald
Thu, Apr 16, 8:16 AM EDT
Return by in Reading
Thu, Apr 16, 1:43 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Reading
2026-04-16T02:48
Arrive McDonald
Thu, Apr 16, 8:16 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:27 AM to 1:27 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
6:06 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Reading
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 Reading
137.9 mi
02h 43m
To McDonald
138.4 mi
02h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Penn Street

    1917 ft · 40 sec · Penn Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Penn Avenue

    2.6 mi · 5 min · Penn Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left

    1411 ft · 35 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    9.8 mi · 13 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: PA Turnpike, Denver

    1843 ft · 52 sec

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Colonel Howard Boulevard

    1518 ft · 39 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

    2931 ft · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg

    3107 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    230.8 mi · 4 hr 12 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville

    3142 ft · 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on US 22 Business, I 376 West, US 22 West: Monroeville, Pittsburgh

    945 ft · 23 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh

    108 m · 9 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

    18.8 mi · 26 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 50: Carnegie, Heidelberg

    1124 ft · 32 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Carnegie

    1222 ft · 35 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Jane Street

    135 m · 17 sec · Jane Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Mansfield Boulevard

    2046 ft · 47 sec · Mansfield Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Noblestown Road

    3.3 mi · 6 min · Noblestown Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Nike Site Road

    2082 ft · 45 sec · Nike Site Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Gregg Station Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Gregg Station Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Noblestown Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Noblestown Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Noblestown Road

    1341 ft · 43 sec · Noblestown Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Noblestown Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Noblestown Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Noblestown Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Noblestown Road

  26. 26

    Continue on Noblestown Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Noblestown Road

  27. 27

    Continue on East Lincoln Avenue

    1802 ft · 59 sec · East Lincoln Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Fannie Street

    146 m · 22 sec · Fannie Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Sarah Street

    139 m · 20 sec · Sarah Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sarah Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
231 mi · 84%
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
18.8 mi · 7%
Penn Avenue
12.7 mi · 5%
Noblestown Road
7.74 mi · 3%
Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.84 mi
Gregg Station Road
0.75 mi
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

231 mi · 04h 12m

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
05h 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.5 mi
226.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Valley-Hi
02h 43m from Reading
Leave By
6:06 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Reading and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near McDonald.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 276.3 miles (444.7 km) and usually takes 05h 27m 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 137.9 miles from Reading and 138.4 miles from McDonald.

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

The direct path is about 226.8 miles (365 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.5 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 6:06 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.84 one way or $79.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Reading and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near McDonald.

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 Reading and McDonald. Straight-line distance: 226.82 mi (365.03 km).

Reading

#1 Reading

The fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population88,217
Coordinates40.3356500, -75.9268700
Altitude93
CountryUnited States
McDonald

#2 McDonald

Borough of Pennsylvania

Population1,678
Coordinates40.3709000, -80.2347800
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Start: Reading (-75.92687, 40.33565)
End: McDonald (-80.23478, 40.3709)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 445 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.75 gal
36.91 L · about $39.84
Round trip
$79.68
19.5 gal · 73.82 L
Estimated CO2
86.6 kg one way
Round trip: 173.3 kg / 382 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $39.84 $79.68
Mid-grade $4.60 $44.84 $89.68
Premium $4.95 $48.30 $96.60
Diesel $5.98 $58.31 $116.61

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 Reading and McDonald. The current time is 02:48:43.

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.