Spanning 324.5 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Baden to Scranton typically takes around 6 hours and 3 minutes to complete. Because the travel time is manageable, you can easily tackle this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $54 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Northeast region, you will rely on a combination of I-79, I-81, and the Keystone Shortway. It is a straightforward trek that connects two distinct parts of the state, making it a practical choice if you are looking to reach your destination efficiently in a single push.
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
162.3 miles from Baden, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.8 mi
4h 18m
I 79
37.8 mi
40m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Freedom Crider Road
4.4 mi
6m
Freedom Road
2.5 mi
4m
Ohio River Boulevard
2.2 mi
2m
Crows Run Road
1.5 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baden, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on State Street
0.5 mi·1 min·State Street
2
Merge onto PA 65
2.2 mi·2 min·Ohio River Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Crows Run Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Crows Run Road
4
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.0 mi·2 min·Freedom Crider Road
5
Enter roundabout onto Freedom Crider Road
102 ft·1 sec·Freedom Crider Road
6
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Freedom Crider Road
7
Continue on Freedom Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Freedom Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on PA 228
0.4 mi·46 sec·Mars Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward I 79: Erie
10
Merge onto I 79
38 mi·40 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
12
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
14
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
16
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly 6-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to beat potential traffic and ensure you arrive in Scranton with plenty of daylight left. You only need to plan for one dedicated stop to keep your energy up and maintain a comfortable pace. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the long 239.8-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as that is where you will spend the bulk of your time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, stay alert during the non-highway portions where road conditions may require more frequent adjustments and focus.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 162.3 miles from Baden, PA, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.8 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 71 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.3 miles or 3h 1m 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 53m
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 Baden, 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 Baden, PA
This is one driving day of about 324.5 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Baden, 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 239.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 324.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.6 mi into trip|~3m in|Crows Run Road
Turn right onto Crows Run Road
Navigation decision point
4
6 mi into trip|~8m in|Freedom Crider Road
Enter roundabout onto Freedom Crider Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
11.7 mi into trip|~19m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
290.1 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
7
324.4 mi into trip|~6h 3m 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
$53.80 one way
$107.60 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.92
$117.84
premium
$4.93
$62.93
$125.87
diesel
$5.61
$71.65
$143.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.4
1
$34.07
$15.58
Efficient EV
81.1
0
$28.39
$12.98
EV Truck/SUV
129.8
1
$45.43
$20.77
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Baden, PA
Late night
in Baden on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
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
28 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
6h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 varied experience behind the wheel, as this route transitions from turn-heavy local roads to high-speed corridors. With only 22% of the trip consisting of highway travel, you will spend a significant portion of your time navigating tighter, more technical road segments. The most notable stretch is your time on the Keystone Shortway, which accounts for a substantial 239.8 miles of the journey. This mix of terrain ensures the drive stays engaging, requiring you to shift your focus between steady cruising and attentive maneuvering through the local segments.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.8 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near Crows Run 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 324.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.6 miles (Crows Run Road): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Freedom Crider Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.7 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,782 ft739 ft
Total Climb
1,016 ft
Total Descent
1,367 ft
Highest Point
1,782 ft
~134.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,043 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 324.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.8 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 2.6 miles (Crows Run Road): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Freedom Crider Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.7 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 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.
