This 279.2-mile drive from Arnold, PA to the City of Scranton, PA takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll be navigating primarily on the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with some time on PA 28. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $46. Since both locations are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you won't be crossing state lines or drastically different terrains. This route offers a mixed driving experience and is well-suited for a single day's adventure, allowing for a good pace without feeling rushed.
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
139.6 miles from Arnold, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
180.6 mi
3h 15m
PA 28
36.7 mi
54m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Allegheny Valley Expressway
17.9 mi
20m
US 422
5.1 mi
6m
Tarentum Bridge Road
1.1 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Freeport Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 180.6 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arnold, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Constitution Boulevard
104 ft·8 sec·Constitution Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Drey Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Drey Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Freeport Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Freeport Road
4
Turn left onto PA 366
1.1 mi·2 min·Tarentum Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on PA 366; Red Belt
0.2 mi·24 sec·Ross Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on PA 366; Red Belt
0.5 mi·54 sec·Bull Creek Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward PA 28 North: KittanningUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto PA 28
18 mi·20 min·Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·52 sec
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
10
Merge onto US 422; PA 28
5.1 mi·6 min·US 422; PA 28
11
Continue on PA 28; PA 66
37 mi·54 min·PA 28; PA 66
12
Take the ramp onto PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi·46 sec·PA 28 Truck
13
Merge onto I 80; PA 28 Truck
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·Keystone Shortway
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
15
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
17
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 30-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Arnold, PA, to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the 180.6-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, where services might be more spread out. The $46 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Enjoy the straightforward journey across Pennsylvania.
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 139.6 miles from Arnold, PA, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.6 miles or 2h 52m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arnold, 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 Arnold, PA
This is one driving day of about 279.2 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Arnold, 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 180.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 279 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road
Turn left onto PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
3 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
5
3.4 mi into trip|~8m in|PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge onto PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.3 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, In...
7
279 mi into trip|~5h 30m 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
$46.29 one way
$92.58 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$50.70
$101.39
premium
$4.93
$54.15
$108.29
diesel
$5.61
$61.64
$123.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.8
1
$29.32
$13.40
Efficient EV
69.8
0
$24.43
$11.17
EV Truck/SUV
111.7
1
$39.09
$17.87
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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Arnold, PA
Afternoon
in Arnold on Sunday
Local time
2:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
2:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Clearfield, PA
140 mi in
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
30 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 30m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 33% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 180.6 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a more continuous highway experience. The drive transitions between different road types, so be prepared for shifts in speed and scenery as you move from PA 28 to the Keystone Shortway and finally to I-81. This variety keeps the drive engaging, avoiding a monotonous feel while still covering substantial mileage efficiently.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 279.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.2 miles (PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arnold, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
Indiana
21.3 mi in|~28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 279.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at City of Scranton, PA before the return drive.
