How far is Reading, PA from Charleston, PA?
The driving distance from Reading, PA to Charleston, PA is about 293.7 miles (472.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 240.1 miles (386.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05h 35m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Borough of Pennsylvania
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Reading and Charleston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading and Charleston.
-
1
Start on Penn Street
85 m · 9 sec · Penn Street
-
2
Turn right onto North 5th Street
2689 ft · 56 sec · North 5th Street
-
3
Turn slight left onto Centre Avenue
3 mi · 5 min · Centre Avenue
-
4
Continue on Pottsville Pike
4.7 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike
-
5
Continue on South Centre Avenue
1.6 km · 1 min · South Centre Avenue
-
6
Continue on Pottsville Pike
3.2 mi · 4 min · Pottsville Pike
-
7
Continue on Shoemaker Avenue
3219 ft · 44 sec · Shoemaker Avenue
-
8
Continue on Pottsville Pike
2.3 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike
-
9
Continue on South 4th Street
1321 ft · 19 sec · South 4th Street
-
10
Continue on Pottsville Pike
4.2 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike
-
11
Continue on Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi · 13 min · Centre Turnpike
-
12
Continue on Route 61 South
3 mi · 4 min · Route 61 South
-
13
Continue on Pottsville Boulevard
1434 ft · 18 sec · Pottsville Boulevard
-
14
Continue on South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
797 ft · 21 sec · South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
-
15
Turn left onto Mauch Chunk Street
563 ft · 11 sec · Mauch Chunk Street
-
16
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Centre Street
2134 ft · 39 sec · South Centre Street
-
17
Turn left onto West Market Street
2.3 mi · 5 min · West Market Street
-
18
Continue on Pottsville Minersville Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway
-
19
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Sunbury Street
1.2 km · 1 min · East Sunbury Street
-
20
Continue on Sunbury Road
9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road
-
21
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
-
22
Continue on Locust Gap Highway
1810 ft · 43 sec · Locust Gap Highway
-
23
Continue on Locust Gap Highway
11.1 mi · 13 min · Locust Gap Highway
-
24
Continue on South Market Street
9.7 mi · 11 min · South Market Street
-
25
Turn right onto Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
1799 ft · 46 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
-
26
Continue on Factory Street
716 ft · 20 sec · Factory Street
-
27
Continue on Continental Boulevard
3 mi · 4 min · Continental Boulevard
-
28
Take the exit slight right
2146 ft · 52 sec
-
29
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
208.5 mi · 3 hr 44 min · Keystone Shortway
-
30
Take the exit slight right toward US 19: Mercer
816 ft · 23 sec
-
31
Keep slight right
73 m · 8 sec
-
32
Turn straight onto South Erie Street
2.2 mi · 4 min · South Erie Street
-
33
Turn left onto West Market Street
2337 ft · 54 sec · West Market Street
-
34
Continue on Sharon-Mercer Road
2.3 mi · 3 min · Sharon-Mercer Road
-
35
Continue on West Market Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · West Market Street
-
36
Continue on Sharon-Mercer Road
1.9 mi · 3 min · Sharon-Mercer Road
-
37
Continue on West Market Street
1.3 km · 1 min · West Market Street
-
38
Turn left onto Greenfield Road
21 m · 3 sec · Greenfield Road
-
39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Greenfield Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Reading and Charleston.
Straightforward drive
The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.
Keystone Shortway
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
209 mi · 03h 44m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Reading and Mostly Cloudy near Charleston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Reading to Charleston?
The road trip is about 293.7 miles (472.7 km) and usually takes 05h 35m 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?
Central City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.6 miles from Reading and 147.1 miles from Charleston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 240.1 miles (386.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.6 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 5:48 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.33 one way or $84.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Reading and Mostly Cloudy near Charleston.
Stop Ideas Near Central City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Central City.
Lewistown
Tyrone
Huntingdon
Altoona Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Reading and Charleston. Straight-line distance: 240.12 mi (386.43 km).
#1 Reading
The fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania.
| Population | 88,217 |
| Coordinates | 40.3356500, -75.9268700 |
| Altitude | 93 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Charleston
Township in Tioga County, Pennsylvania
| Population | 3,390 |
| Coordinates | 41.2370000, -80.3603400 |
| Altitude | 384 |
| Country | United States |
End: Charleston (-80.36034, 41.237)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 473 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 20m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 52m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 39m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $42.33 | $84.66 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $47.65 | $95.29 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $51.32 | $102.65 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $61.95 | $123.91 |
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 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.