When I fly from Reading, I start with the closest options—abe or mdt—and then check phl for more routes or better flight times. A quick comparison up front saves me from headaches on the day I travel.
Over time, I’ve learned to weigh the whole door-to-door picture: the drive, parking, security, and how clean the connections look. That’s how I decide whether the convenience of a smaller airport beats the network of a bigger hub.
Key Takeaways
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Closest options for Reading, PA travelers: lehigh valley (abe), harrisburg (mdt), and philadelphia (phl); newark (ewr) is a bigger-network backup.
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Reading regional (rdg) exists but has limited or no scheduled commercial service—most travelers use abe, mdt, phl, or ewr.
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Choose by total door-to-door time: drive, parking, security, and flight schedule—not just the ticket price.
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For international or wider route maps, phl and ewr usually offer the most choice; abe and mdt can be calmer and faster to navigate.
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Weekends and holidays can spike traffic and parking; leave early and keep a backup airport in mind.
List of Airports Near Reading, PA
Before we dive into the details of each airport near Reading, PA, we’ll give it to you in a table format. If you are only interested in the hard facts then this table is especially for you. We’ll order the airports by road distance to Reading, PA downtown.
This way you can easily search for cheap flights depending on distance and connectivity to your local airport. There is also one more key in the below table: the airports we think are the best choice are highlighted in bold. Either they have the best connectivity or the closest airport to Reading, PA making them a great choice.
| Airport Name | IATA | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster Airport | LNS | 30 miles |
| Lehigh Valley International Airport | ABE | 40 miles |
| Harrisburg International Airport | MDT | 60 miles |
| Philadelphia International Airport | PHL | 65 miles |
The Closest Airport to Reading, PA
Although the closest airport to Reading, PA is the Lancaster Airport we’ll not use this airport as our highlighted choice. Rather we’ll take the closest major airport to Reading, PA which is the Philadelphia International Airport.
Simply put, the Philadelphia International Airport is the best choice when traveling to Reading, PA. It’s only around 65 miles from Reading so it’s approximately one hour of driving.
When you look at the airports near Reading, PA, you can’t beat the connectivity that’s offered by Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). If you are on the east coast you will most likely have a direct flight to Philly.
Not only does the east coast have a great connection to PHL airport but going to the western areas of the nation you’ll still get a lot of direct flights from places like LA or SF.
Add to that you get international flights in Philadelphia International Airport as well, though we kind of doubt international flyers are looking at Reading, PA as their first city to visit in the US. It’s only possible if they are going to Reading, PA for a business trip.
Philadelphia Intl Airport is really the best choice when flying to Reading, PA. It’s pretty close to the actual city. Car rentals or transfers are readily available at Philadelphia making it easy to get from one city to the other.
Other Airports Near Reading, PA
Philadelphia International Airport will cover the travel needs of almost anyone that wants to fly to Reading, PA. However, there are still some more options in case you want to find some superb deals on cheap flights.
Let’s take a look at the other airports near Reading, PA. As we’ve already said, the city is in a quite metropolitan area with multiple bigger towns around and this means multiple nice airports around.
While many of these airports fall short of the connectivity of Philadelphia they can be good alternatives for you specifically. In case you are somewhere that has direct connections to these small airports, then you might be able to save on airfare, transfer, or car rental prices.
Lancaster Airport
Lancaster Airport (LNS) is actually the closest airport to Reading, PA. Yet, it’s pretty hard to recommend this airport. Not because of the distance but because of the connectivity to the rest of the nation.
There is just one airline that has a passenger service to LNS and it’s Southern Airways Express. They fly to and from: Pittsburg, Washington, and Nantucket.
Unless you are staying in any of these three places then Lancaster Airport is not a great choice as you’ll need to grab a connecting flight. Being a small airport there aren’t many options from these cities either so even a two-leg flight will be hard to plan.
However, if you are in Pittsburg, Washington, or Nantucket you can try your hand at finding some cheap flights to Lancaster Airport. You might get lucky and save a few dollars compared to going to Philly Airport.
The road distance is only 30 miles, or around 30 minutes of driving, which is roughly the half compared to coming from Philadelphia. This is the closest airport to Reading, PA after all.
Lehigh Valley International Airport
Lehigh Valley International Airport is a little better connected to the rest of the US and it’s still pretty close to Reading, PA.
You can hitch direct flights to Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) from multiple towns in Florida, and towns like Chicago or Nashville.
It’s only around 40 miles from Reading, PA, but the driving time is close to one hour. This means that the transfer time is very similar then it is from Philadelphia Airport.
We recommend for you to consider Lehigh Valley (Allentown) if you are in a place that has direct flights to the airport. In that case, you can compare ticket prices and maybe find a great deal. Otherwise, it’s just easier to find a transfer at Philadelphia International.
Harrisburg International Airport
The Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) is around 60 miles or one hour of driving from Reading, PA. This makes it a very similar choice to the other options when you are looking for the closest airport to Reading, PA.
As it is with many of these regional airports we can recommend them, if you can find a cheap deal and if you have a direct connection to Harrisburg International Airport. Otherwise, you can stick to the many other airports available in the area.
Conclusion
After a lot of trial runs, my rule of thumb is simple: if a nearby airport gets me there with less stress, I take it; if a hub like phl or ewr offers a meaningfully better schedule or price, I’ll make the longer drive.
Pick the airport that matches your day, add a buffer for parking and security, and you’ll start the trip without the last-minute scramble.
About the Author
William Chase is the traveler behind GotYourPassport.com, where he shares practical, no-fluff guides for low-stress trips. He focuses on simple wins—smart airport picks, realistic timing, and easy ground logistics. His own runs between reading and nearby hubs inspired this guide, so you can choose the airport that fits your plans with confidence.
FAQs
Q: What is the closest major airport to Reading, PA?
lehigh valley international (abe) and harrisburg international (mdt) are typically the closest major options. philadelphia (phl) isn’t far either and offers far more routes.
Q: Does Reading have its own airport?
yes—reading regional (rdg). however, scheduled commercial flights are limited or unavailable at times, so most travelers depart from abe, mdt, phl, or ewr.
Q: Which airport is best for international flights?
phl and ewr generally have the most nonstop options and partner networks, making long-haul and complex itineraries easier.
Q: How should I choose between abe, mdt, phl, and ewr?
compare total trip time and cost: fare, drive time, parking, security, and departure/arrival times. if savings at a bigger hub are small, a closer/smaller airport may still win.
Q: Is parking straightforward at these airports?
yes. all offer multiple parking tiers (garage, economy, long-term) with shuttles and clear signage. check rates before peak weekends and add a time buffer.