Reading, PA to Mifflinville, PA is 82.3 miles and takes about 1h 44m via I 81 and Pottsville Pike, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a relatively short trip that offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for a single-day excursion. Expect a straightforward journey with a good portion on major highways, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
20.9 mi
23m
Pottsville Pike
14.4 mi
18m
Keystone Shortway
14 mi
15m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
State Route 93
3.7 mi
7m
Route 61 South
3 mi
3m
Centre Avenue
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 20.9 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Mifflinville, 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
21 mi·23 min·I 81
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward PA 93: West Hazleton
20
Keep slight left at fork
294 ft·9 sec
21
Turn left onto PA 93
369 ft·14 sec·Valmont Parkway
22
Continue on PA 93
3.7 mi·7 min·State Route 93
23
Continue on PA 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Berwick Hazleton Highway
24
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
25
Merge onto I 80
14 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward PA 339: Mainville, Mifflinville
27
Turn straight onto PA 339
0.7 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
28
Turn left onto Market Street
120 ft·2 sec·Market Street
29
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1h 44m drive, it's a perfect same-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic in Reading. With only 82.3 miles, you won't need many stops, but there are opportunities if you wish. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading onto the longer highway stretches, as the estimated fuel cost is $14. A practical tip: familiarize yourself with the transition from I 81 to Pottsville Pike, as this is where the driving character shifts.
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 41.1 miles from Reading, PA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.9 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 52m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mifflinville, 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 82.3 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 20.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 81.2 — 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
41 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
4
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward PA 93: West Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 93: West Hazleton
5
62.4 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward PA 339: Mainville, Mifflinville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 339: Mainville, Mifflinville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.64 one way
$27.29 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.94
$29.89
premium
$4.93
$15.96
$31.92
diesel
$5.61
$18.17
$36.34
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.20
$3.29
EV Truck/SUV
32.9
0
$11.52
$5.27
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Reading, PA
Morning
in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
N 10 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mifflinville, PA
Morning
in Mifflinville on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
15 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 44m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 31.2
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 47% of your journey on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster travel, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.9 miles on I 81. The drive incorporates major roadways like the Keystone Shortway alongside local roads such as Pottsville Pike. This blend means you'll encounter both efficient highway cruising and more local road navigation, providing a varied driving experience throughout the 82.3 miles.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.9 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 222 BUS / North 5th Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.3 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 41 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 82.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.9 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 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 — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Mifflinville, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 41 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Mifflinville, PA before heading back.
