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Trip from Reading, PA to Riverside, PA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 31m

Distance

72.3 mi

116 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m

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

Downtown Riverside, PA, PA

Riverside, PA

Tim Dusenberry

Trip Overview

The drive from Reading, PA to Riverside, PA covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pottsville Pike, Locust Gap Highway, Centre Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.4 miles on Pottsville Pike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.99 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

36.1 miles from Reading, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 31m drive with frequent turns across 72.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 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. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 222 BUS / North 5th Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.9 miles (US 209 / South Centre Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 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

5
33.8 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street

Turn left onto US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street

Navigation decision point

4
33.9 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 209 / South Centre Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 209 / South Centre Street

Navigation decision point

4
38.4 mi into trip | ~51m in | PA 901 / East Sunbury Street

At end of road, turn left onto PA 901 / East Sunbury Street

Navigation decision point

4
72 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | Mill Street

Turn left onto Mill Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pottsville Pike 14.4 mi 18m
Locust Gap Highway 11.5 mi 13m
Centre Turnpike 10.6 mi 12m
South Market Street 9.7 mi 11m
Sunbury Road 9.6 mi 12m
Route 61 South 3 mi 3m
Centre Avenue 3 mi 4m
West Market Street 2.3 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Pottsville Pike — 14.4 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Riverside, 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

11 mi · 12 min · Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on PA 61

3.0 mi · 3 min · Route 61 South
13

Continue on PA 61

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Pottsville Boulevard
14

Continue on PA 61

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
15

Turn left onto US 209

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Mauch Chunk Street
16

At end of road, turn right onto US 209

0.4 mi · 38 sec · South Centre Street
17

Turn left onto US 209

2.3 mi · 4 min · West Market Street
18

Continue on US 209; PA 901

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
19

At end of road, turn left onto PA 901

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Sunbury Street
20

Continue on PA 901

9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road
21

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
22

Continue on PA 901

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Locust Gap Highway
23

Continue on PA 54; PA 901

11 mi · 13 min · Locust Gap Highway
24

Continue on PA 54

9.7 mi · 11 min · South Market Street
25

Turn left onto Mill Street

208 ft · 5 sec · Mill Street
26

Turn right onto Sunbury Road

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Sunbury Road
27

Arrive at destination

Sunbury Road

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 36.1 miles from Reading, PA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.4 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 72.3 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36.1 miles or 47m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Reading, 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 Reading, PA

This is one driving day of about 72.3 miles and 1h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Reading, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Pottsville Pike for about 14.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.1 mi from Reading, PA · 47m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

36 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

Syracuse, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Riverside, PA

The final approach into Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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

$11.99 one way

$23.97 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $13.13 $26.26
premium $4.93 $14.02 $28.04
diesel $5.61 $15.96 $31.93

Estimated Tolls: $0.74

Centre Turnpike (10.6 mi) $0.74

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

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47
Efficient EV 18.1 0 $6.33 $2.89
EV Truck/SUV 28.9 0 $10.12 $4.63

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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 data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Reading, PA

Late night in Reading on Wednesday

Local time

3:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverside, PA

Late night in Riverside on Wednesday

Local time

3:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2 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 31m 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 Reading, PA to Riverside, PA covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pottsville Pike, Locust Gap Highway, Centre Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.1 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 $11.99 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 72.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.9 miles (US 209 / South Centre Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Reading, PA to Riverside, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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