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Trip from Reading, PA to Nesquehoning, PA

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

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

48.2 mi

78 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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borough of Pennsylvania

Nesquehoning, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Reading to Nesquehoning, expect a straightforward 48.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. This route serves as a perfect one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can anticipate a fuel budget of approximately $8, making this an economical choice for a weekend getaway. While both towns are situated within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, the drive transitions you from the more populated Reading area into the distinct topography of Nesquehoning. It is an ideal path for travelers who prefer local roads over monotonous interstate travel. Ultimately, this trip offers a practical, efficient way to navigate between these two Pennsylvania communities.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pottsville Pike 14.4 mi 18m
Summer Valley Road 6.5 mi 10m
Clamtown Road 5.7 mi 9m
West Patterson Street 3.2 mi 6m
Centre Avenue 3 mi 4m
West Water Street 2.3 mi 3m
Market Street 2.2 mi 3m
East Broad Street 1.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Pottsville Pike — 14.4 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Nesquehoning, 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 left onto PA 309

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Penn Pike
17

Continue on PA 309

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Center Street
18

Turn right onto Cedar Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Cedar Street
19

Turn left onto South Greenwood Street

180 ft · 12 sec · South Greenwood Street
20

Turn right onto US 209

1.8 mi · 3 min · East Broad Street
21

Continue on US 209

2.3 mi · 3 min · West Water Street
22

Continue on US 209

3.2 mi · 6 min · West Patterson Street
23

Continue on US 209

2.2 mi · 3 min · Market Street
24

Turn right onto US 209

0.4 mi · 42 sec · West Catawissa Street
25

Turn right onto North Mermon Avenue

59 ft · 2 sec · North Mermon Avenue
26

Arrive at destination

North Mermon Avenue

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

24 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

Bloomsburg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Hamburg, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.1 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 48.2 — 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
28.2 mi into trip | ~39m in | PA 443 / East Railroad Avenue

Turn left onto PA 443 / East Railroad Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
38.2 mi into trip | ~58m in | South Greenwood Street

Turn left onto South Greenwood Street

Navigation decision point

4
38.2 mi into trip | ~58m in | US 209 / East Broad Street

Turn right onto US 209 / East Broad Street

Navigation decision point

4
48.2 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | North Mermon Avenue

Turn right onto North Mermon Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.99 one way

$15.98 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.75 $17.50
premium $4.93 $9.35 $18.70
diesel $5.61 $10.64 $21.28

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

$8

Tolls

$0

Total

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.5 0 $5.06 $2.31
Efficient EV 12.1 0 $4.22 $1.93
EV Truck/SUV 19.3 0 $6.75 $3.08

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Reading, PA

Late night in Reading on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

SW 5 to 15 mph 27% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:07PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 6:48PM EDT until April 14 at 7:15PM EDT by NWS State College PA

Destination

Nesquehoning, PA

Late night in Nesquehoning on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

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 16m 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?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as only 4% of your journey will be spent on highways. Your path relies primarily on Pottsville Pike, Summer Valley Road, and Clamtown Road, which keep you off the major expressways for the vast majority of the time. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 14.4-mile segment along Pottsville Pike, providing a brief period of consistent driving. Because the route is dominated by local roads, you will need to remain alert for frequent changes in road direction. This technical profile makes the trip feel more involved than a standard highway cruise, requiring your full attention behind the wheel.

Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 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?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 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 6/10

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 48.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 38.2 miles (South Greenwood Street): Navigation decision point.

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.

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 16m. Total distance: 48.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

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.

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 Nesquehoning, 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 28.2 miles (PA 443 / East Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (South Greenwood Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Nesquehoning, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Nesquehoning, PA to Reading, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

48.6 mi 1h 17m

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