How far is Bethlehem, PA from Reading, PA?

The driving distance from Bethlehem, PA to Reading, PA is about 204.8 miles (329.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
204.81 mi
03h 46m
Flight
151.49 mi
243.8 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bethlehem.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
151.49 mi
Kilometers
243.8 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
204.81 mi
Kilometers
329.61 km
Drive Time
03h 46m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Reading
Sun, May 31, 3:46 PM EDT
Return by in Bethlehem
Sun, May 31, 7:33 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bethlehem
2026-05-31T12:00
Arrive Reading
Sun, May 31, 3:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bethlehem
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Carroll
PA

Township in southern Perry County, Pennsylvania

From Bethlehem
102.5 mi
01h 53m
To Reading
102.3 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph N
Destination
73°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bethlehem and Reading.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem and Reading.

  1. 1

    Start on Deer Run Road

    12 m · 2 sec · Deer Run Road

  2. 2

    Continue on Bethlehem Hill Road

    1.3 km · 3 min · Bethlehem Hill Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Market Street

    1324 ft · 26 sec · Market Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street

    1001 ft · 13 sec · West Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Mahaffey Grampian Highway

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Mahaffey Grampian Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on 1st Street

    1.1 km · 48 sec · 1st Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Curwensville Grampian Road

    4.7 mi · 5 min · Curwensville Grampian Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Curwensville Grampian Highway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Curwensville Grampian Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Curwensville Grampain Highway

    1900 ft · 24 sec · Curwensville Grampain Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Clearfield Curwensville Highway

    2 mi · 2 min · Clearfield Curwensville Highway

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Clearfield Shawville Highway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Clearfield Shawville Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit right

    1484 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    103.7 mi · 1 hr 52 min · Keystone Shortway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville

    1080 ft · 27 sec

  16. 16

    Turn slight left

    24 m · 3 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Continental Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Continental Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Factory Street

    716 ft · 20 sec · Factory Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

    1799 ft · 49 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Elysburg Road

    9.7 mi · 11 min · Elysburg Road

  21. 21

    Continue on State Route 54

    11.1 mi · 13 min · State Route 54

  22. 22

    Continue on Locust Gap Highway

    1897 ft · 42 sec · Locust Gap Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Fairgrounds Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Sunbury Road

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Sunbury Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Sunbury Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Pottsville Minersville Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Gordon Nagle Trail

    4 mi · 7 min · Gordon Nagle Trail

  28. 28

    Continue on North Sillyman Street

    1281 ft · 33 sec · North Sillyman Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Pottsville Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Pottsville Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Route 61 South

    150 m · 6 sec · Route 61 South

  31. 31

    Continue on Center Avenue

    10.6 mi · 13 min · Center Avenue

  32. 32

    Continue on Centre Street

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Centre Street

  33. 33

    Continue on South 4th Street

    1328 ft · 17 sec · South 4th Street

  34. 34

    Continue on Pottsville Pike

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike

  35. 35

    Continue on Shoemaker Avenue

    3246 ft · 44 sec · Shoemaker Avenue

  36. 36

    Continue on Pottsville Pike

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Pottsville Pike

  37. 37

    Continue on North Centre Avenue

    1.6 km · 1 min · North Centre Avenue

  38. 38

    Continue on Pottsville Pike

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike

  39. 39

    Continue on Centre Avenue

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Centre Avenue

  40. 40

    Continue on North 4th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · North 4th Street

  41. 41

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    1101 ft · 28 sec · Franklin Street

  42. 42

    Turn left onto South 6th Street

    599 ft · 25 sec · South 6th Street

  43. 43

    Turn left onto Penn Street

    85 m · 5 sec · Penn Street

  44. 44

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Penn Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bethlehem and Reading.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
44 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
104 mi · 51%
State Route 54
11.1 mi · 5%
Center Avenue
10.6 mi · 5%
Pottsville Pike
10.2 mi · 5%
Mahaffey Grampian Highway
9.83 mi · 5%
Elysburg Road
9.74 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

104 mi · 01h 52m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53.3 mi
151.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Carroll
01h 53m from Bethlehem
Leave By
9:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bethlehem and Sunny near Reading.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bethlehem to Reading?

The road trip is about 204.8 miles (329.6 km) and usually takes 03h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Carroll is a useful midpoint, sitting about 102.5 miles from Bethlehem and 102.3 miles from Reading.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.54 one way or $59.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bethlehem and Sunny near Reading.

Stop Ideas Near Carroll

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Carroll, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Carroll.

RAIL

Lewistown

60 mi away
150 Helen Street
RAIL

Harrisburg Transportation Center

92 mi away
4th and Chestnut Streets
RAIL

Huntingdon

92 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Tyrone

96 mi away
Pennsylvania Ave and West 10th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bethlehem and Reading. Straight-line distance: 151.49 mi (243.8 km).

Bethlehem

#1 Bethlehem

City in Lehigh and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania, USA

Population24,549
Coordinates40.8617300, -78.7303100
Altitude503
CountryUnited States
Reading

#2 Reading

The fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population88,217
Coordinates40.3356500, -75.9268700
Altitude93
CountryUnited States
Start: Deer Run Road (-78.730353, 40.861734)
End: Penn Street (-75.926876, 40.335365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 330 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.23 gal
27.36 L · about $29.54
Round trip
$59.08
14.46 gal · 54.72 L
Estimated CO2
64.3 kg one way
Round trip: 128.5 kg / 283 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $29.54 $59.08
Mid-grade $4.60 $33.25 $66.50
Premium $4.95 $35.82 $71.63
Diesel $5.98 $43.24 $86.47

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Bethlehem and Reading. The current time is 12:00:00.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.