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Trip from Jackson, 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 15m

Distance

94 mi

151 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 6m ★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m

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

Downtown Jackson, PA, PA

Jackson, PA

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

The drive from Jackson, PA to Reading, PA covers 94 miles and takes about 2h 15m 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 $15.58 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

47 miles from Jackson, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 94 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 15m drive with frequent turns across 94 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in near PA 254 / Rohrsburg Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 94 miles you will encounter 11 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 5 miles (PA 254 / Rohrsburg Road): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles (PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road): Navigation decision point; at 20.7 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

4
5 mi into trip | ~12m in | PA 254 / Rohrsburg Road

Turn right onto PA 254 / Rohrsburg Road

Navigation decision point

4
12.5 mi into trip | ~25m in | PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road

Turn left onto PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road

Navigation decision point

5
20.7 mi into trip | ~40m in | PA 54 / Continental Boulevard

Turn left onto PA 54 / Continental Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
22.8 mi into trip | ~43m in | PA 54 / Elysburg Road

Turn left onto PA 54 / Elysburg Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
93.9 mi into trip | ~2h 15m 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
Jerseytown Road 7.6 mi 13m
Rohrsburg Road 4.7 mi 8m
Eagle Road 4.5 mi 10m
Longest stretch: State Route 54 — 11.1 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Derrs Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Derrs Road
2

Continue on Eagle Road

4.5 mi · 10 min · Eagle Road
3

Turn right onto PA 254

3.0 mi · 5 min · Rohrsburg Road
4

Continue on PA 254

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
5

Continue on PA 254

1.7 mi · 3 min · Rohrsburg Road
6

Continue on PA 254

1.8 mi · 3 min · Jerseytown Road
7

Turn left onto PA 44; PA 642

1.1 mi · 1 min · Danville Road
8

Keep slight right at fork onto PA 642

1.3 mi · 2 min · Danville Road
9

Continue on PA 642

5.8 mi · 10 min · Jerseytown Road
10

Turn left onto PA 54

1.7 mi · 2 min · Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on PA 54

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Factory Street
12

Continue on PA 54

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
13

Turn left onto PA 54

9.7 mi · 11 min · Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on PA 54

11 mi · 13 min · State Route 54
15

Continue on PA 901

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Locust Gap Highway
16

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
17

Continue on PA 901

9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road
18

Continue on PA 901

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sunbury Street
19

Turn right onto PA 901

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway
20

Turn right onto PA 901

4.0 mi · 6 min · Gordon Nagle Trail
21

Continue on PA 901

0.2 mi · 33 sec · North Sillyman Street
22

Turn left onto PA 183

0.7 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Street
23

Turn right onto PA 61

493 ft · 6 sec · Route 61 South
24

Continue on PA 61

11 mi · 12 min · Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25

Continue on PA 61

4.2 mi · 5 min · Centre Street
26

Continue on PA 61

0.3 mi · 17 sec · South 4th Street
27

Continue on PA 61

2.3 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
28

Continue on PA 61

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29

Continue on PA 61

3.2 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
30

Continue on PA 61

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Centre Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
31

Continue on PA 61

4.7 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
32

Continue on PA 61

2.8 mi · 4 min · Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
33

Continue on PA 61

0.8 mi · 1 min · North 4th Street
34

Turn left onto US 422 Business

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Franklin Street
35

Turn left onto South 6th Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
36

Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate

278 ft · 4 sec · Penn Street
37

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 47 miles from Jackson, PA, or about 1h 11m 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 21 miles or 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47 miles or 1h 11m 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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, PA

This is one driving day of about 94 miles and 2h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Jackson, 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 47 mi from Jackson, PA · 1h 11m into the drive

borough in western Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tremont, PA

47 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

Tremont, PA to Reading, PA

41.7 mi · 1h 6m

Pacing Suggestions

Danville, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tremont, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47 miles from Jackson, 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

$15.58 one way

$31.17 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $17.07 $34.14
premium $4.93 $18.23 $36.46
diesel $5.61 $20.75 $41.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.2 0 $9.87 $4.51
Efficient EV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76
EV Truck/SUV 37.6 0 $13.16 $6.02

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Jackson, PA

Night in Jackson on Friday

Local time

10:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Reading, PA

Night in Reading on Friday

Local time

10:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 5 to 15 mph 3% chance Live forecast

45°F

Tremont, PA

47 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

47 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 15m 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 Jackson, PA to Reading, PA covers 94 miles and takes about 2h 15m 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 47 miles from Jackson, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.58 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 94 miles you will encounter 11 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 5 miles (PA 254 / Rohrsburg Road): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles (PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road): Navigation decision point; at 20.7 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Jackson, 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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