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Trip from Reading, PA to Oakdale, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

55.2 mi

89 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

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

Downtown Oakdale, PA, PA

Oakdale, PA

Jack Pace

Trip Overview

This 55.2-mile drive from Reading, PA to Oakdale, PA offers a straightforward 1 hour and 26-minute journey, making it an ideal day trip. With a modest fuel cost of around $9, it's an economical option for exploring more of Pennsylvania. The route primarily utilizes local roads, offering a more intimate feel than a typical interstate haul. You'll be spending about 9% of your time on highways, with the bulk of the drive on Pottsville Pike and Summer Valley Road. Consider this a convenient way to connect two points within the Northeast region without committing to an overnight stay.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a low 9% highway share. Your longest continuous stretch will be 14.4 miles along Pottsville Pike, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. You'll navigate through local roads like Summer Valley Road and South Kennedy Drive, which means a more varied driving experience with more intersections and potential for slower speeds. This isn't a high-speed cruise; rather, it's a route that requires your attention as you wind through Pennsylvania's local landscapes.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pottsville Pike is the longest continuous segment at about 14.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 222 BUS / North 5th Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (PA 61 / Centre Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (PA 895 / Summer Valley Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 222 BUS / North 5th Street

Turn right onto US 222 BUS / North 5th Street

Navigation decision point

3
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | PA 61 / Centre Avenue

Turn slight left onto PA 61 / Centre Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
3
21.5 mi into trip | ~28m in | PA 895 / Summer Valley Road

Turn right onto PA 895 / Summer Valley Road

Navigation decision point

4
28.2 mi into trip | ~39m in | PA 443 / East Railroad Avenue

Turn left onto PA 443 / East Railroad Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
55.1 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | Pierce Court

Turn right onto Pierce Court

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pottsville Pike 14.4 mi 18m
Summer Valley Road 6.5 mi 10m
South Kennedy Drive 5.9 mi 8m
Clamtown Road 5.7 mi 9m
Pine Street 5.2 mi 8m
PA 940 3 mi 6m
Centre Avenue 3 mi 4m
Mile Hill Road 2.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Pottsville Pike — 14.4 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 422 Business Alternate

279 ft · 8 sec · Penn Street
2

Turn right onto US 222 BUS

0.5 mi · 55 sec · North 5th Street
3

Turn slight left onto PA 61

3.0 mi · 4 min · Centre Avenue
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on PA 61

4.7 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on PA 61

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on PA 61

3.2 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on PA 61

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Continue on PA 61

2.3 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on PA 61

0.3 mi · 19 sec · South 4th Street
10

Continue on PA 61

4.2 mi · 5 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on PA 61

1.7 mi · 1 min · Centre Turnpike
12

Turn right onto PA 895

6.5 mi · 10 min · Summer Valley Road
13

Continue on PA 443; PA 895

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Hughes Street
14

Turn left onto PA 443

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Railroad Avenue
15

Continue on PA 443

5.7 mi · 9 min · Clamtown Road
16

Turn left onto PA 309

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Penn Pike
17

Continue on PA 309

1.5 mi · 3 min · South Center Street
18

Continue on PA 309

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Mauch Chunk Street
19

Turn left onto PA 309

5.2 mi · 8 min · Pine Street
20

Continue on PA 309

2.1 mi · 3 min · Mile Hill Road
21

Continue on PA 309

5.9 mi · 8 min · South Kennedy Drive
22

Turn slight right onto Fishers Hill Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Fishers Hill Avenue
23

Turn right onto PA 940

3.0 mi · 6 min · PA 940
24

Turn left onto Swaab Court

166 ft · 13 sec · Swaab Court
25

Turn right onto Pierce Court

264 ft · 15 sec · Pierce Court
26

Arrive at destination

Pierce Court

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.6 mi from Reading, PA · 38m into the drive

township in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Penn, PA

28 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

West Hamburg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Penn, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Oakdale, PA

The final approach into Oakdale, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.15 one way

$18.30 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.02 $20.05
premium $4.93 $10.71 $21.41
diesel $5.61 $12.19 $24.37

Estimated Tolls: $0.12

Centre Turnpike (1.7 mi) $0.12

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Tolls

$0

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.6 0 $5.80 $2.65
Efficient EV 13.8 0 $4.83 $2.21
EV Truck/SUV 22.1 0 $7.73 $3.53

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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

Reading, PA

Late night in Reading on Saturday

Local time

2:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 5 to 15 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Destination

Oakdale, PA

Late night in Oakdale on Saturday

Local time

2:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

48 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 26m 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 Reading, PA to Oakdale, PA covers 55.2 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pottsville Pike, Summer Valley Road, South Kennedy Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 27.6 miles from Reading, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.15 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 is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (PA 61 / Centre Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (PA 895 / Summer Valley Road): Navigation decision point.

The route from Reading, PA to Oakdale, 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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