Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Reading, PA to Jim Thorpe, PA

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 21m

Distance

53.8 mi

87 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 15m ★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
borough and county seat of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States

Jim Thorpe, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a straightforward regional getaway, the 53.8-mile drive from Reading to Jim Thorpe is an ideal one-day excursion. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 21 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly accessible trek within Northeast Pennsylvania. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, this trip is as budget-friendly as it is convenient. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily complete the journey without needing an overnight stay. Whether you are heading out for a quick change of scenery or a brief local escape, this route offers a manageable travel time that leaves you plenty of energy to explore upon arrival.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pottsville Pike 14.4 mi 18m
Blakeslee Boulevard Drive West 7.4 mi 11m
Summer Valley Road 6.5 mi 10m
Clamtown Road 5.7 mi 9m
Penn Drive 5.5 mi 8m
Centre Avenue 3 mi 4m
Mauch Chunk Street 1.9 mi 2m
Centre Turnpike 1.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pottsville Pike — 14.4 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Jim Thorpe, 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 right onto PA 309; PA 443

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Penn Pike
Use the left lane.
17

Turn slight left onto PA 443

5.5 mi · 8 min · Penn Drive
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on PA 443

7.4 mi · 11 min · Blakeslee Boulevard Drive West
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Turn left onto US 209

0.2 mi · 27 sec · East Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
20

Continue on US 209

0.1 mi · 7 sec · Bankway Street
21

Continue on US 209

0.6 mi · 55 sec · Sargent Stanley Hoffman Boulevard
Toward US 209 South Use the straight lane.
22

Continue on US 209

0.9 mi · 1 min · North 1st Street
23

Continue on US 209

1.9 mi · 2 min · Mauch Chunk Street
24

Continue on US 209

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Susquehanna Street
25

Turn right onto US 209

123 ft · 1 sec · Lehigh Avenue
26

Continue on US 209

0.5 mi · 33 sec · Lehigh Street
27

Turn right onto PA 903

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Street
28

Turn left onto West 6th Street

135 ft · 5 sec · West 6th Street
29

Arrive at destination

West 6th Street

Where to Stop

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

township in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Penn, PA

27 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 26.9 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 52.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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
35 mi into trip | ~51m in | PA 309; PA 443 / West Penn Pike

Turn right onto PA 309; PA 443 / West Penn Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
48.8 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | US 209 / East Bridge Street

Turn left onto US 209 / East Bridge Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
52.7 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | US 209 / Lehigh Avenue

Turn right onto US 209 / Lehigh Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.92 one way

$17.84 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $9.77 $19.54
premium $4.93 $10.43 $20.87
diesel $5.61 $11.88 $23.76

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: 18.8 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 16.1 0 $5.65 $2.58
Efficient EV 13.5 0 $4.71 $2.15
EV Truck/SUV 21.5 0 $7.53 $3.44

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 Tuesday

Local time

4:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 5 to 15 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA

Destination

Jim Thorpe, PA

Late night in Jim Thorpe on Tuesday

Local time

4:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°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

30 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 21m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that favors backroads over high-speed interstates. With only 3% of your journey spent on highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local routes like Pottsville Pike, Summer Valley Road, and Blakeslee Boulevard Drive West. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch early on, covering 14.4 miles along Pottsville Pike before the character of the road shifts. Expect a driving experience that requires more attention than a standard highway cruise, as the winding local paths demand steady focus. It is a practical, hands-on route that keeps you engaged with the surrounding landscape throughout the entire trip.

Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.4 mi on Pottsville Pike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 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.

Driving Effort 5/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 28.2 miles (PA 443 / East Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (PA 309; PA 443 / West Penn Pike): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Reading, PA

Full guide →

Reading is a historic city of about 95,000 (2020 Census) in Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 35 miles southwest of Allentown and 55 miles east of Harrisburg. It punches above its weight in culture, and its downtown features some iconic buildings, so consider making it a stopover on your way between any of these and other area cities.

Arriving in Jim Thorpe, PA

Full guide →

Founded 1818

Jim Thorpe is a borough in the Coal Region, near Lehighton, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Top landmarks

  • • Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway — coal-hauling railroad in the mountains of Pennsylvania (1828-1932)
  • • Asa Packer Mansion — historic house museum in Pennsylvania
  • • St. Mark's Episcopal Church — church building in Jim Thorpe, United States of America

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 14.4 miles on Pottsville Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Centre Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles (PA 443 / East Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (PA 309; PA 443 / West Penn Pike): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jim Thorpe, PA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Jim Thorpe, PA to Reading, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

54.2 mi 1h 22m

Continue From Jim Thorpe, PA

McMurray, PA 292.5 mi · 6h 3m Pittsburgh, PA 268.9 mi · 5h 34m Harrisburg, PA 88.1 mi · 1h 59m Scranton, PA 48.3 mi · 1h 5m

More from Reading, PA

Erie, PA 349.4 mi · 6h 35m Spring, PA 328.5 mi · 6h 16m Oakwood, PA 307 mi · 5h 45m Mechanicsburg, PA 289.6 mi · 5h 40m Sandy Lake, PA 286.1 mi · 5h 27m Youngsville, PA 268.6 mi · 5h 46m

More trips to Jim Thorpe, PA

Altoona, PA 174.2 mi Croydon, PA 87.6 mi Whitman, PA 85.8 mi Philadelphia, PA 82 mi Upper Darby, PA 80.7 mi Bethlehem, PA 34.8 mi
Escape planner: Reading, PA Scenic drives in PA

Explore more options from Reading, PA or browse trips ending in Jim Thorpe, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.