How far is Plains, PA from Reading, PA?

The driving distance from Plains, PA to Reading, PA is about 86.1 miles (138.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 65.1 miles (104.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
86.07 mi
01h 49m
Flight
65.05 mi
104.69 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Plains.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
65.05 mi
Kilometers
104.69 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
86.07 mi
Kilometers
138.52 km
Drive Time
01h 49m

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 01h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Reading
Thu, Apr 23, 1:19 AM EDT
Return by in Plains
Thu, Apr 23, 3:08 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plains
2026-04-22T23:30
Arrive Reading
Thu, Apr 23, 1:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Plains
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Mahanoy City
PA

Borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States

From Plains
46 mi
00h 54m
To Reading
40.1 mi
00h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
65°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Carey Street

    36 m · 7 sec · East Carey Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    531 ft · 15 sec · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on Maffett Street

    1.4 km · 3 min · Maffett Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto South River Street

    143 m · 22 sec · South River Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    2236 ft · 55 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    11.9 mi · 15 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    34 mi · 39 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 61 North: Frackville

    2062 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Skyline Drive

    153 m · 14 sec · Skyline Drive

  11. 11

    Turn uturn onto Skyline Drive

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Skyline Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on Joseph H. Long Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Joseph H. Long Boulevard

  13. 13

    Continue on Pottsville Saint Clair Highway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Pottsville Saint Clair Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on North Claude A. Lord Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Claude A. Lord Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on Pottsville Boulevard

    1152 ft · 15 sec · Pottsville Boulevard

  16. 16

    Continue on Route 61 South

    3 mi · 4 min · Route 61 South

  17. 17

    Continue on Center Avenue

    10.6 mi · 13 min · Center Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Centre Street

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Centre Street

  19. 19

    Continue on South 4th Street

    1328 ft · 17 sec · South 4th Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Pottsville Pike

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike

  21. 21

    Continue on Shoemaker Avenue

    3246 ft · 44 sec · Shoemaker Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Pottsville Pike

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Pottsville Pike

  23. 23

    Continue on North Centre Avenue

    1.6 km · 1 min · North Centre Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on Pottsville Pike

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike

  25. 25

    Continue on Centre Avenue

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Centre Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on North 4th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · North 4th Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    1101 ft · 28 sec · Franklin Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto South 6th Street

    599 ft · 25 sec · South 6th Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Penn Street

    85 m · 5 sec · Penn Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Penn Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
30 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South River Street
48.2 mi · 56%
Center Avenue
10.6 mi · 12%
Pottsville Pike
10.2 mi · 12%
Skyline Drive
4.36 mi · 5%
Centre Street
4.15 mi · 5%
Route 61 South
3 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

South River Street

Continue straight

34 mi · 00h 39m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21 mi
65.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mahanoy City
00h 54m from Plains
Leave By
2:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Plains and Chance Rain Showers near Reading.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 86.1 miles (138.5 km) and usually takes 01h 49m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mahanoy City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 46 miles from Plains and 40.1 miles from Reading.

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

The direct path is about 65.1 miles (104.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 21 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.42 one way or $24.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Plains and Chance Rain Showers near Reading.

Stop Ideas Near Mahanoy City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mahanoy City, 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 Mahanoy City.

BUS

White Haven, PA

47 mi away
I-476, Exit 95/I-80, Exit 277, at Hwy 940
BUS

Wilkes-Barre, PA

53 mi away
47 South Washington Street
BUS

Scranton, PA

77 mi away
23 Lackawanna Avenue
RAIL

Elizabethtown station

84 mi away
South Wilson Avenue at West High Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plains and Reading. Straight-line distance: 65.05 mi (104.69 km).

Plains

#1 Plains

Township in eastern Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Population9,657
Coordinates41.2753600, -75.8502000
Altitude200
CountryUnited States
Reading

#2 Reading

The fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population88,217
Coordinates40.3356500, -75.9268700
Altitude93
CountryUnited States
Start: East Carey Street (-75.85019, 41.275384)
End: Penn Street (-75.926876, 40.335365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 139 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.04 gal
11.5 L · about $12.42
Round trip
$24.84
6.08 gal · 23 L
Estimated CO2
27 kg one way
Round trip: 54 kg / 119 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $12.42 $24.84
Mid-grade $4.60 $13.98 $27.96
Premium $4.95 $15.06 $30.12
Diesel $5.98 $18.18 $36.36

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Plains and Reading. The current time is 23:30:13.

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.