Origin
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Late night in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
80.9 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
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 Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, PA covers 80.9 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 South Main Street, Hazle Street, Blackman Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.41 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
40.4 miles from Wilkes-Barre, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 47m drive with frequent turns across 80.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Main 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | — | — |
| Hazle Street | — | — |
| Blackman Street | — | — |
| Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard | — | — |
| PA 61 North | — | — |
| Skyline Drive | — | — |
| Joseph H | — | — |
| Pottsville Saint Clair Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilkes-Barre, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Public Square
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Public Square
2
Exit the rotary onto South Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Hazle Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hazle Street
4
Turn left onto Blackman Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Blackman Street
5
Turn right onto Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
6
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
7
Merge slight left
41 mi
·
47 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward PA 61 North: Frackville
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
PA 61 North: Frackville
9
Turn straight onto Skyline Drive
502 ft
·
14 sec
·
Skyline Drive
10
Turn uturn onto Skyline Drive
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Skyline Drive
11
Continue on Joseph H. Long Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
12
Continue on Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
13
Continue on North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
14
Continue on Pottsville Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
15
Continue on Route 61 South
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
16
Continue on Center Avenue
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Center Avenue
17
Continue on Centre Street
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Centre Street
18
Continue on South 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
South 4th Street
19
Continue on Pottsville Pike
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Pike
20
Continue on Shoemaker Avenue
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Shoemaker Avenue
21
Continue on Pottsville Pike
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Pottsville Pike
22
Continue on North Centre Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Centre Avenue
23
Continue on Pottsville Pike
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Pottsville Pike
24
Continue on Centre Avenue
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Centre Avenue
25
Continue on North 4th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
26
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
27
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South 6th Street
28
Turn left onto Penn Street
279 ft
·
5 sec
·
Penn Street
29
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 40.4 miles from Wilkes-Barre, 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 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 30m
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 Wilkes-Barre, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wilkes-Barre, PA
This is one driving day of about 80.9 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Wilkes-Barre, 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 40.4 mi from Wilkes-Barre, PA · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.4 miles from Wilkes-Barre, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.41 one way
$26.82 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.69 | $29.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.69 | $31.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.86 | $35.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 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 | 24.3 | 0 | $8.49 | $3.88 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Reading, PA
Late night in Reading on Thursday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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 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 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, PA covers 80.9 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 South Main Street, Hazle Street, Blackman Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.4 miles from Wilkes-Barre, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.41 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wilkes-Barre, PA to Reading, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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