This 215-mile drive from Saint Marys, PA to Reading, PA will take you approximately 4 hours and 23 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $36, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without an overnight stop. The journey primarily utilizes the Keystone Shortway, State Route 54, and the Million Dollar Highway, offering a varied driving experience. Given its location entirely within Pennsylvania, this trip keeps you within the Northeast region. This route is a good option if you're looking for a manageable drive with a relatively low fuel budget.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
107.5 miles from Saint Marys, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
112.7 mi
2h 1m
State Route 54
11.1 mi
13m
Million Dollar Highway
10.9 mi
16m
Center Avenue
10.6 mi
12m
Pottsville Pike
10.2 mi
12m
Elysburg Road
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 112.7 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Marys, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on PA 120; PA 255
45 ft·1 sec·Railroad Street
2
Turn left onto PA 120; PA 255
223 ft·4 sec·South Michael Street
3
Turn slight left onto PA 120
0.2 mi·22 sec·PA 120
4
Continue on PA 255
11 mi·16 min·Million Dollar Highway
5
Continue on PA 255
7.9 mi·12 min·Bennetts Valley Highway
6
Turn left onto PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
8
Merge onto I 80
113 mi·2 hr 1 min·Keystone Shortway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
10
Turn slight left
79 ft·2 sec
11
Turn right onto PA 54
2.9 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
13
Continue on PA 54
0.3 mi·49 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
14
Turn left onto PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on PA 54
11 mi·13 min·State Route 54
16
Continue on PA 901
0.4 mi·41 sec·Locust Gap Highway
17
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
18
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi·11 min·Sunbury Road
19
Continue on PA 901
0.8 mi·1 min·Sunbury Street
20
Turn right onto PA 901
1.8 mi·2 min·Pottsville Minersville Highway
21
Turn right onto PA 901
4.0 mi·6 min·Gordon Nagle Trail
22
Continue on PA 901
0.2 mi·33 sec·North Sillyman Street
23
Turn left onto PA 183
0.7 mi·2 min·Pottsville Street
24
Turn right onto PA 61
493 ft·6 sec·Route 61 South
25
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on PA 61
4.2 mi·5 min·Centre Street
27
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·17 sec·South 4th Street
28
Continue on PA 61
2.3 mi·2 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on PA 61
0.6 mi·43 sec·Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on PA 61
3.2 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·North Centre Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on PA 61
4.7 mi·6 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on PA 61
2.8 mi·4 min·Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on PA 61
0.8 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
35
Turn left onto US 422 Business
0.2 mi·27 sec·Franklin Street
36
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
37
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft·4 sec·Penn Street
38
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 23-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Saint Marys to maximize your daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading onto longer stretches like the 112.7-mile portion of the Keystone Shortway, as services can be spaced out. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of adapting your schedule as needed. A specific tip for this route is to be prepared for the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile; ensure your navigation is set up before you start, as frequent turns might make it easy to miss a crucial exit.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.5 miles from Saint Marys, PA, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.7 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 47 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.5 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reading, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Marys, 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 Saint Marys, PA
This is one driving day of about 215.1 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Saint Marys, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 112.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 107.5 miles from Saint Marys, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Gibraltar Park
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 214.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 120; PA 255 / South Michael Street
Turn left onto PA 120; PA 255 / South Michael Street
Navigation decision point
5
140.2 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
5
140.5 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Turn right onto PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
143.8 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|PA 54 / Elysburg Road
Turn left onto PA 54 / Elysburg Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
214.9 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|South 6th Street
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.66 one way
$71.32 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.06
$78.11
premium
$4.93
$41.72
$83.43
diesel
$5.61
$47.49
$94.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.5
0
$22.59
$10.32
Efficient EV
53.8
0
$18.82
$8.60
EV Truck/SUV
86
1
$30.11
$13.77
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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
Saint Marys, PA
Late night
in Saint Marys on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Reading, PA
Late night
in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph3% chanceLive 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
46 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 178
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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only about 5% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 112.7 miles along the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of more consistent travel. As you transition off the Keystone Shortway, the route will likely become more winding and involve more local roads, requiring your attention. This drive is characterized by its frequent turns and changes in road type, making it engaging for those who prefer a less monotonous experience behind the wheel.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 120; PA 255 / South Michael 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 4h 23m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 120; PA 255 / South Michael Street): Navigation decision point; at 140.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140.5 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint Marys, PA to Reading, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Washingtonville along the way.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (PA 120; PA 255 / South Michael Street): Navigation decision point; at 140.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140.5 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Reading, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
