If you are planning a trip from Reading to Tunkhannock, expect a straightforward journey spanning 115.1 miles. This route typically takes about 2 hours and 34 minutes, making it a manageable trek for a single-day excursion. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including the Pottsville Pike, I-81, and the Tunkhannock Highway. Budgeting approximately $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. Since you are traveling entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, the transition between these two areas is seamless and efficient. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick getaway, this drive offers a reliable connection between these two Pennsylvania hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
57.5 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
45.8 mi
54m
Tunkhannock Highway
15.7 mi
25m
Pottsville Pike
14.4 mi
18m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
PA 309
10.2 mi
17m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Route 61 South
3 mi
3m
Centre Avenue
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 45.8 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Tunkhannock, 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
46 mi·54 min·I 81
19
Take the exit onto PA 309
10 mi·17 min·PA 309
Toward PA 115 east, PA 309 north: Wilkes-Barre
20
Take the exit onto PA 309
509 ft·12 sec·PA 309
21
Merge onto PA 309
16 mi·24 min·Tunkhannock Highway
22
Continue on PA 29
1.9 mi·3 min·Hunter Highway
23
Continue on PA 29
0.2 mi·36 sec·Tunkhannock Highway
24
Continue on PA 29
0.2 mi·39 sec·Bridge Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Arrive at destination
PA 29
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 34 minute travel time, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily handle the drive in a single push without feeling rushed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when transitioning from the interstate segments onto the Tunkhannock Highway to ensure you don't run low during the final leg. Since the route relies heavily on I-81, try to avoid peak commuting hours to keep your travel time consistent with the estimate. Utilizing your one planned stop strategically will help you stay refreshed for the final approach into Tunkhannock.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.5 miles from Reading, PA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.8 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tunkhannock, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Reading, PA
This is one driving day of about 115.1 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Reading, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 45.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 87.1 — 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
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 61 / Centre Avenue
Turn slight left onto PA 61 / Centre Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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
3
41.3 mi into trip|~52m in|I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|PA 309
Take the exit onto PA 309 toward PA 115 east, PA 309 north: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 115 east, PA 309 north: Wilkes-Barre
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.08 one way
$38.16 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$20.90
$41.80
premium
$4.93
$22.32
$44.64
diesel
$5.61
$25.41
$50.83
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
$19
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.5
0
$12.09
$5.52
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
EV Truck/SUV
46
0
$16.11
$7.37
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 19, 2026
Origin
Reading, PA
Morning
in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tunkhannock, PA
Morning
in Tunkhannock on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Shenandoah, PA
58 mi in
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
2h 34m 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.
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
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 31.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed transit with local road navigation. You will spend about 60% of your time on highways, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-81, where you can settle in for 45.8 miles of interstate driving. Transitioning off the main highway onto the Tunkhannock Highway changes the pace, requiring more attention as you navigate toward your destination. Expect a blend of efficient interstate cruising and the more deliberate, variable nature of local Pennsylvania roadways.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort6/10
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 115.1 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 0.6 miles (PA 61 / Centre Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 41 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 2h 34m. Total distance: 115.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.8 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.
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 Tunkhannock, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (PA 61 / Centre Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 41 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 Tunkhannock, PA before heading back.
