Origin
Carbondale, PA
Late night in Carbondale on Saturday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
123.7 mi
199 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carbondale, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
The drive from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA covers 123.7 miles and takes about 2h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pike Street, Cottage Street, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.9 miles from Carbondale, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 123.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 16m drive with frequent turns across 123.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pike Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pike Street | — | — |
| Cottage Street | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Meredith Street | — | — |
| US 6 West | — | — |
| Governor Robert P | — | — |
| I 81 South | — | — |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Pike Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carbondale, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
2
Continue on Pike Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Pike Street
3
Continue on Cottage Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cottage Street
4
Continue on Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Turn left onto Meredith Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Meredith Street
6
Take the ramp right toward US 6 West: Scranton
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 6 West: Scranton
7
Merge slight left onto Governor Robert P. Casey Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Governor Robert P. Casey Highway
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
9
Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway
62 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward PA 61 North: Frackville
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
PA 61 North: Frackville
11
Turn straight onto Skyline Drive
502 ft
·
14 sec
·
Skyline Drive
12
Turn uturn onto Skyline Drive
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Skyline Drive
13
Continue on Joseph H. Long Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
14
Continue on Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
15
Continue on North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
16
Continue on Pottsville Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
17
Continue on Route 61 South
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
18
Continue on Center Avenue
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Center Avenue
19
Continue on Centre Street
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Centre Street
20
Continue on South 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
South 4th Street
21
Continue on Pottsville Pike
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Pike
22
Continue on Shoemaker Avenue
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Shoemaker Avenue
23
Continue on Pottsville Pike
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Pottsville Pike
24
Continue on North Centre Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Centre Avenue
25
Continue on Pottsville Pike
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Pottsville Pike
26
Continue on Centre Avenue
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Centre Avenue
27
Continue on North 4th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
28
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
29
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South 6th Street
30
Turn left onto Penn Street
279 ft
·
5 sec
·
Penn Street
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.9 miles from Carbondale, PA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.9 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reading, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carbondale, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carbondale, PA
This is one driving day of about 123.7 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Carbondale, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.9 mi from Carbondale, PA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.9 miles from Carbondale, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Reading, PA
The final approach into Reading, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Reading, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.51 one way
$41.02 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $22.46 | $44.92 |
| premium | $4.93 | $23.99 | $47.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.31 | $54.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.1 | 0 | $12.99 | $5.94 |
| Efficient EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.32 | $7.92 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Reading, PA
Late night in Reading on Saturday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Shenandoah, PA
62 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA covers 123.7 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pike Street, Cottage Street, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.9 miles from Carbondale, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carbondale, PA to Reading, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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