This 279.4-mile journey from Acme, PA, to Scranton, PA, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 18 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway, I-99, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, this drive offers a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $46, it's an economical option for exploring within Pennsylvania. The route traverses the Northeast region of the state, making it a convenient option for those looking to travel between these two points without venturing far. Given its duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
139.7 miles from Acme, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
85.5 mi
1h 34m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
55 mi
1h 1m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
State Route 31
2.7 mi
4m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Business 220
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,120 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,611
Quietest
2 AM
~194 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Acme, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
64 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto PA 31
2.7 mi·4 min·State Route 31
3
Turn slight left
0.2 mi·33 sec
4
Turn left
28 ft·3 sec
5
Take the ramp
493 ft·12 sec
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
7
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
55 mi·1 hr 1 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Bedford, AltoonaUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·42 sec·Business 220
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
12
Merge onto I 99; US 220
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 99; US 220
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
15
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
16
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
18
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
20
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
23
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
24
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 18-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 99.3 miles, you can easily break up the journey as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on the Keystone Shortway, as services can be more spread out. The $46 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra. This route is perfectly suited for a single day, so you can enjoy flexibility in your pacing.
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 139.7 miles from Acme, PA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 61 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.7 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Acme, 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 Acme, PA
This is one driving day of about 279.4 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Acme, 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 99.3 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 58.2 and 278.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Bedford, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Bedford, Altoona
6
58.9 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
7
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
7
145 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
278.8 mi into trip|~5h 16m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.80 one way
$97.59 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$53.43
$106.85
premium
$5.20
$57.16
$114.31
diesel
$6.28
$69.04
$138.07
Estimated Tolls: $7.15
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(55 mi)$7.15
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
$49
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.8
1
$29.34
$13.41
Efficient EV
69.9
0
$24.45
$11.18
EV Truck/SUV
111.8
1
$39.12
$17.88
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Acme, PA
Morning
in Acme on Friday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Friday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
N 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
6 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
5h 18m 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.
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 28.9
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 77.1
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 63% of this trip. You'll encounter stretches of I-99 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 99.3 miles along the Keystone Shortway. While largely on major roadways, the character of the drive will shift as you transition between these different highways, offering a consistent pace for most of the 279.4 miles.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Keystone Shortway and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 58.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 279.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,176 ft528 ft
Total Climb
1,547 ft
Total Descent
2,712 ft
Highest Point
2,176 ft
~20 mi in
Elevation Range
1,649 ft
Notable High Points
1,462 ft at ~179.6 miles+697 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Acme, PA and Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Bedford and Altoona.
Scranton is a city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is near Wilkes-Barre, and is the seventh most populous city in the state. Today, it is perhaps best known as the setting of the hit TV show "The Office" and the birthplace of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.
Top landmarks
•St. Peter's Cathedral — historic church in Pennsylvania, United States
•Steamtown National Historic Site — railroad museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania
•Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel — railway station in Scranton, the United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 279.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.15 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania 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 27 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Scranton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Flight 93 National Memorial, Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Fort Necessity National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.
