The drive from Belmont, PA to Scranton, PA covers 227.5 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 99, I 81 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
113.8 miles from Belmont, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
William Penn Highway
10.2 mi
11m
Portage Street
9.5 mi
13m
US 219
7.8 mi
10m
Bedford Street
1.4 mi
2m
Belmont Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Belmont, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Belmont Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Belmont Street
2
Enter roundabout onto PA 756
123 ft·2 sec·Belmont Street
3
Continue on PA 756
398 ft·11 sec·Belmont Street
4
Turn right onto PA 756
1.4 mi·2 min·Bedford Street
5
Continue on PA 756
0.2 mi·33 sec·Elton Road
6
Turn sharp left
0.2 mi·23 sec
7
Merge onto US 219; PA 56
7.8 mi·10 min·US 219; PA 56
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
9
Turn right onto Railroad Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
10
Continue on PA 53
9.5 mi·13 min·Portage Street
11
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi·14 sec·Cleveland Street
12
Turn right onto PA 53
510 ft·9 sec·Main Street
13
Turn slight left onto PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·Evergreen Street
14
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
15
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 East: AltoonaUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto US 22
10 mi·11 min·William Penn Highway
17
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
19
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
20
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.
21
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
22
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
23
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
24
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
25
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
27
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
28
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
30
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
31
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
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 113.8 miles from Belmont, PA, or about 2h 17m 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 50 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.8 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
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 Belmont, 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 Belmont, PA
This is one driving day of about 227.5 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Belmont, 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 226.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
35 mi into trip|~49m in
Keep slight left 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
6
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
226.9 mi into trip|~4h 26m 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
$36.60 one way
$73.19 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$41.19
$82.38
premium
$4.95
$44.37
$88.74
diesel
$5.98
$53.56
$107.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.6 kg one way.
EV Charging Along Route
21 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Exxon - Tesla Supercharger
Milton, PA
Tesla
16 DCFC
URBN Flavourhaus Lamar - Tesla Supercharger
Mill Hall, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Shell Station - Tesla Supercharger
Drums, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Laurel Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Hazleton, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Wilkes-Barre Township Commons - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.3
0
$23.89
$10.92
Efficient EV
56.9
0
$19.91
$9.10
EV Truck/SUV
91
1
$31.85
$14.56
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 26, 2026
Origin
Belmont, PA
Evening
in Belmont on Sunday
Local time
8:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Evening
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
8:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 3 mph0% 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
22 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
4h 28m 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.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
227.5 mi in 4h 28m — 43% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Keystone Shortway.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 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 22 significant decision points across 227.5 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 3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 35 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.8 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Belmont, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
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
•Albright Memorial Building — library in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 227.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Yes — we found about 23 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 35 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.8 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
