Traveling from Bethel Park to Scranton covers 289.5 miles across Pennsylvania, typically taking about 6 hours and 5 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a single-day trip, you can easily complete it in one sitting, though you should budget roughly $48 for fuel to make the trek. You will traverse the Northeast region, navigating a mix of major arteries like I-99, the William Penn Highway, and the Keystone Shortway. While it is certainly feasible to drive this in a single day, the route is long enough that you will want to plan for at least one dedicated stop. Expect a practical, mixed-road experience that gets you from the Pittsburgh suburbs to the heart of Scranton efficiently.
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
144.8 miles from Bethel Park, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
59.7 mi
1h 22m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
5th Avenue
4.5 mi
8m
Lebanon Church Road
3.9 mi
6m
Mosside Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel Park, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
102 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right
20 ft·6 sec
3
Turn left
43 ft·5 sec
4
Turn right onto South Park Road
1.0 mi·2 min·South Park Road
5
Continue on Baptist Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Baptist Road
6
Turn right onto Yellow Belt
1.8 mi·3 min·Broughton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
At end of road, turn left onto Yellow Belt
0.3 mi·32 sec·Brownsville Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on Yellow Belt
1.3 mi·2 min·Curry Hollow Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on Yellow Belt
2.9 mi·4 min·Lebanon Church Road
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Yellow Belt
1.0 mi·1 min·Lebanon Church Road
11
Turn slight right onto Yellow Belt
0.5 mi·45 sec·Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard
12
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.4 mi·35 sec·Richland Avenue
13
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.4 mi·31 sec·W.D. Mansfield Memorial Bridge
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Yellow Belt
2.1 mi·3 min·Yellow Belt
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on PA 148; Yellow Belt
4.5 mi·8 min·5th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Yellow Belt
0.2 mi·20 sec·Patton Street
17
Turn right onto Avenue U
214 ft·6 sec·Avenue U
18
At end of road, turn right onto Avenue U
229 ft·11 sec·Avenue U
19
Turn left onto Watkins Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Watkins Avenue
20
Continue on State Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·State Street
21
Continue on PA 130
1.8 mi·2 min·Broadway Boulevard
22
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt
2.7 mi·4 min·Mosside Boulevard
23
Turn straight
0.1 mi·25 sec
24
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
1.7 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
25
Turn right onto US 22
43 mi·1 hr 2 min·William Penn Highway
Use the right lane.
26
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
28
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
30
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
31
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.
32
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
33
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
34
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
35
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
36
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
38
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
39
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
40
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour and 5-minute journey, try to depart early in the morning to beat potential congestion near the urban centers. Given the total distance, plan for at least one well-timed stop to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since you will be navigating different road types throughout the day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $48 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local station pricing. Since this is a one-day trip, use your flexibility to adjust your pace if you find yourself hitting heavy traffic on the busier interstate segments. A helpful tip for this route is to prioritize your rest break during the transition between the Keystone Shortway and the smaller highway sections to keep your focus sharp for the remainder of the drive.
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 144.8 miles from Bethel Park, PA, or about 3h 19m 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 64 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.8 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 2m
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 Bethel Park, 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 Bethel Park, PA
This is one driving day of about 289.5 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Bethel Park, 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 289.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.1 mi into trip|~18m in|Yellow Belt
Keep slight left at fork onto Yellow Belt
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
97.4 mi into trip|~2h 27m 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
139.2 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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
155.5 mi into trip|~3h 32m 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
289.3 mi into trip|~6h 4m 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
$48.00 one way
$95.99 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$52.57
$105.13
premium
$4.93
$56.14
$112.29
diesel
$5.61
$63.92
$127.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.9
1
$30.40
$13.90
Efficient EV
72.4
0
$25.33
$11.58
EV Truck/SUV
115.8
1
$40.53
$18.53
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 17, 2026
Origin
Bethel Park, PA
Late night
in Bethel Park on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
N 8 mph13% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Tyrone, PA
145 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
16 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 5m 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.
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 69.9
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...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 69.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a varied experience with a highway share of 31%, meaning you will spend significant time on both major interstates and secondary routes. You will encounter a diverse mix of road types, transitioning from busy suburban exits to longer stretches of open pavement. The longest uninterrupted portion of the trip is a 99.3-mile segment on the Keystone Shortway, which provides a consistent pace for a large chunk of your journey. As you progress, the character of the road shifts, requiring you to adapt your driving style between high-speed highway cruising and slower, more technical sections of the William Penn Highway and I-99.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 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?
8/10
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 10.1 miles in near Yellow Belt.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 289.5 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 10.1 miles (Yellow Belt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.2 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 Bethel Park, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
96.9 mi in|~2h 26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 289.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
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 10.1 miles (Yellow Belt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.2 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 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.
