Origin
Reading, PA
Morning in Reading on Thursday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Reading, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
85.3 mi
137 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Reading, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA covers 85.3 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North 5th Street, Centre Avenue, Pottsville Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.14 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
42.7 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 85.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 47m drive with frequent turns across 85.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 5th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Reading, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA is easy. At 1h 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Reading, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 5th Street | — | — |
| Centre Avenue | — | — |
| Pottsville Pike | — | — |
| South Centre Avenue | — | — |
| Shoemaker Avenue | — | — |
| South 4th Street | — | — |
| Centre Turnpike | — | — |
| Route 61 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North 5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Wilkes-Barre, PA.
1
Start on Penn Street
279 ft
·
9 sec
·
Penn Street
2
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
North 5th Street
3
Turn slight left onto Centre Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Centre Avenue
4
Continue on Pottsville Pike
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Pottsville Pike
5
Continue on South Centre Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Centre Avenue
6
Continue on Pottsville Pike
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Pottsville Pike
7
Continue on Shoemaker Avenue
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Shoemaker Avenue
8
Continue on Pottsville Pike
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Pike
9
Continue on South 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
South 4th Street
10
Continue on Pottsville Pike
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Pottsville Pike
11
Continue on Centre Turnpike
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Centre Turnpike
12
Continue on Route 61 South
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
13
Continue on Pottsville Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
14
Continue on South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
15
Continue on Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
16
Continue on Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 North: Hazleton
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 81 North: Hazleton
18
Merge slight left
41 mi
·
47 min
19
Take the exit slight left toward PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain Top, Wilkes-Barre
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain Top, Wilkes-Barre
20
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
21
Turn straight onto Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
22
Turn left onto Blackman Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Blackman Street
23
Turn right onto Hazle Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hazle Street
24
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
25
Enter the roundabout toward Public Square
492 ft
·
14 sec
·
Public Square
26
Arrive at your destination
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 42.7 miles from Reading, PA, or about 53m into the drive.
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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 53m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilkes-Barre, 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 85.3 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Reading, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.7 mi from Reading, PA · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.7 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wilkes-Barre, PA
The final approach into Wilkes-Barre, 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
$14.14 one way
$28.28 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $15.49 | $30.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.54 | $33.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.83 | $37.67 |
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: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.09 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.94 | $5.46 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Morning in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
4 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 47m 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA covers 85.3 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 5th Street, Centre Avenue, Pottsville Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.7 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 $14.14 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.
The drive from Reading, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA is easy. At 1h 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Reading, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Reading, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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