Origin
Allentown, PA
Afternoon in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
12:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Allentown, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
73.1 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 73.1-mile journey from Allentown, PA, to the City of Scranton, PA, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 89% of the drive on major roads, making it a straightforward trip. You'll spend most of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81. With a projected fuel cost of around $12, this is an economical option for exploring more of Pennsylvania's Northeast region. There are no recommended overnight stops, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 57 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 81 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Tilghman Street | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 57 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Tilghman Street
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Tilghman Street
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476, PATP
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 476; PATP
57 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
7
Merge onto PA 315
523 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chestnut Street
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
9
Merge onto I 81
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 81
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
11
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 72.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
5
62.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
5
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 315 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
5
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
7
72.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m 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
$12.12 one way
$24.24 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.27 | $26.55 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.18 | $28.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.14 | $32.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.41
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(57 mi)
$7.41
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$7
Total
$20
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
42 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
1h 28m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 73.1-mile route. Nearly all of your 1 hour and 28-minute drive will be on major roadways, with a substantial 89% share of highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 57 miles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. While largely a fast-paced journey, you will briefly touch upon Tilghman Street. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding backroads, offering a consistent driving pace for most of its duration.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Allentown, PA and City of Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Scranton.
Patp
4.5 mi in
|
~7m
Scranton
62.3 mi in
|
~1h 13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.41 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.
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 City of Scranton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From City of Scranton, PA
More trips to City of Scranton, PA
Explore more options from Allentown, PA or browse trips ending in City of Scranton, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.