Reading, PA to Vernon, PA is 106.6 miles and takes about 2h 24m via I 81 and Pottsville Pike, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, primarily highway-focused drive that's ideal for a single day. You'll find the fuel costs to be quite manageable for this distance. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient connection between these two points without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.3 miles from Reading, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
45.8 mi
54m
Pottsville Pike
14.4 mi
18m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
PA 309
9.4 mi
15m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Lower Demunds Road
3.9 mi
8m
Demunds Road
3.3 mi
8m
Route 61 South
3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 45.8 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Vernon, 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
9.4 mi·15 min·PA 309
Toward PA 115 east, PA 309 north: Wilkes-Barre
20
Turn slight right onto Main Street Bypass
0.3 mi·43 sec·Main Street Bypass
21
Continue on Lower Demunds Road
3.9 mi·8 min·Lower Demunds Road
22
Continue on Goldsmith Road
0.1 mi·17 sec·Goldsmith Road
23
Keep slight left at fork onto Demunds Road
3.3 mi·8 min·Demunds Road
24
Continue on PA 292
2.4 mi·4 min·PA 292
25
Turn right onto School House Road
48 ft·1 sec·School House Road
26
Arrive at destination
School House Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 24 minutes, this trip is easily achievable in a single day. You can comfortably depart Reading, PA in the morning and arrive in Vernon, PA by lunchtime. There are no specific stops recommended, so you have flexibility to fuel up and take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I 81 is over 45 miles. A good tip for this route is to check traffic conditions on I 81 before you leave, as it's the main artery and can experience congestion.
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 53.3 miles from Reading, PA, or about 1h 7m 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.3 miles or 1h 7m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vernon, 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 106.6 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 100.8 — 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
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
4
100.8 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|Demunds Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Demunds Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.67 one way
$35.35 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.36
$38.71
premium
$4.93
$20.67
$41.35
diesel
$5.61
$23.54
$47.07
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
$18
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.33
$4.26
EV Truck/SUV
42.6
0
$14.92
$6.82
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Late night
in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Vernon, PA
Late night
in Vernon on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Shenandoah, PA
53 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
5 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 24m 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 29.4
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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 67% of the journey utilizing major roads like I 81. Expect a good portion of your time to be spent on the interstate, offering a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 45.8 miles on I 81, so be prepared for a sustained period of highway driving. While largely interstate, the route incorporates roads like Pottsville Pike and Centre Turnpike, which may offer slightly different driving experiences as you progress. Overall, it's a practical route prioritizing efficiency.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Pottsville Pike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 222 BUS / North 5th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
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.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 Vernon, PA before heading back.
