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Trip from Derry, PA to Reading, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 51m

Distance

83.2 mi

134 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 44m ★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Derry, PA, PA

Derry, PA

Israyosoy S.

Trip Overview

The drive from Derry, PA to Reading, PA covers 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Route 54, Center Avenue, Pottsville Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.1 miles on State Route 54. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.79 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

41.6 miles from Derry, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 83.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (13%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 51m drive with frequent turns across 83.2 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.
State Route 54 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Greenleaf Road.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Greenleaf Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (PA 254 / Washingtonville Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Greenleaf Road

Turn left onto Greenleaf Road

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | PA 254 / Washingtonville Road

Turn right onto PA 254 / Washingtonville Road

Navigation decision point

5
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | PA 54 / Continental Boulevard

Turn left onto PA 54 / Continental Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
12 mi into trip | ~19m in | PA 54 / Elysburg Road

Turn left onto PA 54 / Elysburg Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
83 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | South 6th Street

Turn left onto South 6th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Route 54 11.1 mi 13m
Center Avenue 10.6 mi 12m
Pottsville Pike 10.2 mi 12m
Elysburg Road 9.7 mi 11m
Sunbury Road 9.4 mi 11m
Continental Boulevard 7.6 mi 10m
Centre Street 4.2 mi 5m
Gordon Nagle Trail 4 mi 6m
Longest stretch: State Route 54 — 11.1 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Derry, PA and Reading, PA.

1

Start on Crawford Road

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Crawford Road
2

Turn left onto Greenleaf Road

0.2 mi · 58 sec · Greenleaf Road
3

Turn right onto PA 254

3.5 mi · 6 min · Washingtonville Road
4

Turn left onto PA 54

7.6 mi · 10 min · Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Continue on PA 54

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Factory Street
6

Continue on PA 54

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
7

Turn left onto PA 54

9.7 mi · 11 min · Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on PA 54

11 mi · 13 min · State Route 54
9

Continue on PA 901

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Locust Gap Highway
10

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
11

Continue on PA 901

9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road
12

Continue on PA 901

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sunbury Street
13

Turn right onto PA 901

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway
14

Turn right onto PA 901

4.0 mi · 6 min · Gordon Nagle Trail
15

Continue on PA 901

0.2 mi · 33 sec · North Sillyman Street
16

Turn left onto PA 183

0.7 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Street
17

Turn right onto PA 61

493 ft · 6 sec · Route 61 South
18

Continue on PA 61

11 mi · 12 min · Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19

Continue on PA 61

4.2 mi · 5 min · Centre Street
20

Continue on PA 61

0.3 mi · 17 sec · South 4th Street
21

Continue on PA 61

2.3 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Continue on PA 61

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Continue on PA 61

3.2 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
24

Continue on PA 61

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Centre Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25

Continue on PA 61

4.7 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
26

Continue on PA 61

2.8 mi · 4 min · Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27

Continue on PA 61

0.8 mi · 1 min · North 4th Street
28

Turn left onto US 422 Business

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Franklin Street
29

Turn left onto South 6th Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
30

Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate

278 ft · 4 sec · Penn Street
31

Arrive at destination

US 422 Business Alternate

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 41.6 miles from Derry, PA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.1 miles.

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 18 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.6 miles or 54m 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 34m

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 Derry, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Derry, PA

This is one driving day of about 83.2 miles and 1h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Derry, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Route 54 for about 11.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.6 mi from Derry, PA · 54m into the drive

city in central Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pottsville, PA

42 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.

Popular next leg

Pottsville, PA to Reading, PA

34.7 mi · 45m

Pacing Suggestions

Elysburg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pottsville, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.6 miles from Derry, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...

20 mi from route ~50 min detour Free near mile 51.6
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.79 one way

$27.59 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $15.11 $30.21
premium $4.93 $16.14 $32.27
diesel $5.61 $18.37 $36.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25 0 $8.74 $3.99
Efficient EV 20.8 0 $7.28 $3.33
EV Truck/SUV 33.3 0 $11.65 $5.32

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Derry, PA

Afternoon in Derry on Friday

Local time

12:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Reading, PA

Afternoon in Reading on Friday

Local time

12:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 5 to 15 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA

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

45 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

1h 51m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Derry, PA to Reading, PA covers 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are State Route 54, Center Avenue, Pottsville Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 41.6 miles from Derry, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.79 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.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Greenleaf Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (PA 254 / Washingtonville Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Derry, PA to Reading, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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