Origin
Reading, PA
Evening in Reading on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Reading, PA to West Hazleton, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
61.9 mi
100 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Hazleton, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 61.9-mile drive from Reading, PA to West Hazleton, PA is a straightforward trip that should take you about 1 hour and 18 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-81, Pottsville Pike, and Centre Turnpike, this route offers a mixed driving experience, with 54% of it on highways. It's an ideal one-day trip, easily manageable within a single day with a modest fuel cost of around $10. Given that both locations are within the Northeast region and the state of Pennsylvania, you won't be crossing any state lines, making for a simple journey without significant regional shifts.
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
30.9 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a substantial 54% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 18.3 miles on I-81, which will likely feel like a typical interstate experience. The inclusion of Pottsville Pike and Centre Turnpike suggests a transition to more varied road types, potentially offering different driving dynamics outside of the main interstate. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced highway driving and potentially more local road conditions as you progress towards West Hazleton.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 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
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.9 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 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.6 miles (West Cranberry Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese 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
6
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 924: Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 924: Hazleton
5
61.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
West Cranberry Avenue
Turn left onto West Cranberry Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
Webster Avenue
Turn right onto Webster Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
Warren Street
Turn left onto Warren Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 18.3 mi | 20m |
| Pottsville Pike | 14.4 mi | 18m |
| Centre Turnpike | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Joseph H. Long Boulevard | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| Centre Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
| CAN DO Expressway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| South Claude A. Lord Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 18.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and West Hazleton, 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
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
15
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
16
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
18
Merge onto I 81
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 81
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward PA 924: Hazleton
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward PA 924: Hazleton
21
Turn straight onto PA 924
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
CAN DO Expressway
22
Turn left onto South Broad Street
105 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Broad Street
23
Turn left onto West Cranberry Avenue
388 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Cranberry Avenue
24
Continue on South Wayne Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Wayne Avenue
25
Turn right onto Webster Avenue
199 ft
·
14 sec
·
Webster Avenue
26
Turn left onto Warren Street
254 ft
·
11 sec
·
Warren Street
27
Arrive at destination
Warren Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over an hour and a half, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, offering plenty of flexibility. Aim to depart in the morning to enjoy the full day at your destination, and keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $10. Since it's a relatively short drive, you might not need extensive stops, but a quick break on the 18.3-mile stretch of I-81 could be beneficial. Consider fueling up before you leave Reading to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted journey to West Hazleton.
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 30.9 miles from Reading, PA, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.3 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 14 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.9 miles or 39m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Hazleton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Reading, PA
This is one driving day of about 61.9 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Reading, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 18.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.9 mi from Reading, PA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Hazleton, PA
The final approach into West Hazleton, 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
$10.26 one way
$20.52 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.24 | $22.48 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.00 | $24.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.67 | $27.33 |
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
$10
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.67 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
West Hazleton, PA
Evening in West Hazleton on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
New Philadelphia, PA
31 mi in
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
13 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 18m 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 West Hazleton, PA covers 61.9 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Pottsville Pike, Centre Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.9 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 $10.26 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 61.9 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 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.6 miles (West Cranberry Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Reading, PA to West Hazleton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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