Connecting Bloomsburg to Scranton is a straightforward 97.4-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because this route is easily manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for traveling between these two Northeast Pennsylvania hubs. The drive relies heavily on a highway-focused profile, keeping your transit time efficient and predictable. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick getaway, the route offers a reliable connection through the region. It’s an ideal choice if you want to get from point A to point B without any unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Bloomsburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
59.6 mi
1h 10m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
Pottsville Pike
9.7 mi
12m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Route 61 South
3 mi
3m
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Grange Road
1.3 mi
3m
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomsburg, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Park Road
22 ft·4 sec·Park Road
2
Turn left onto Zeigler Road
0.8 mi·3 min·Zeigler Road
3
Continue on Grange Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Grange Road
4
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.9 mi·2 min·West Main Street
5
Turn left onto Lee Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Lee Street
6
Continue on Wall Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Wall Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto PA 61
0.6 mi·40 sec·North Centre Avenue
8
Continue on PA 61
3.2 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on PA 61
0.6 mi·43 sec·Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on PA 61
2.3 mi·2 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·19 sec·South 4th Street
12
Continue on PA 61
4.2 mi·5 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
15
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
16
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi·2 min·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
17
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
18
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
20
Merge onto I 81
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 81
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
22
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
25
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
26
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving during off-peak hours will help you maintain your 2-hour travel estimate. You won't need to plan for any mandatory stops, but keeping your fuel budget of $16 in mind is a good practice before you head out. Because the longest stretch is nearly 60 miles on I-81, make sure your vehicle is prepared for consistent highway speeds before you merge. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on the road ahead rather than complex navigation. Keep an eye on the transition points between the Centre Turnpike and I-81, as these junctions are where you will likely experience the most change in traffic flow.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.7 miles from Bloomsburg, PA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.6 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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
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 Bloomsburg, 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 Bloomsburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 97.4 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bloomsburg, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 59.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 97.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~9m in|PA 61 / North Centre Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto PA 61 / North Centre Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
35.8 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
7
96.8 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
97.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
97.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.15 one way
$32.30 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.69
$35.37
premium
$4.93
$18.89
$37.78
diesel
$5.61
$21.50
$43.01
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Centre Turnpike
(10.6 mi)$0.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.23
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.52
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.64
$6.23
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Bloomsburg, PA
Morning
in Bloomsburg on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 to 6 mph51% chanceLive forecast
60°F
New Philadelphia, PA
49 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
8 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
2h 4m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 26.9
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a primarily highway-focused experience, as 75% of your travel time will be spent on major roads like I-81, the Centre Turnpike, and the Pottsville Pike. You will spend a significant portion of the trip on the interstate, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 59.6 miles on I-81. The road transitions between high-speed highway segments and local turnpikes, requiring you to shift your focus as you move between different road types. While the first half of the drive feels like a standard interstate grind, the shift to local turnpikes provides a change in pace. Navigating these varied road conditions ensures that you stay engaged behind the wheel throughout the two-hour duration.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.6 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Centre Turnpike. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near PA 61 / North Centre Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 97.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 3.5 miles (PA 61 / North Centre Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 35.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.8 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 97.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.6 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Centre 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (PA 61 / North Centre Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 35.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.8 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scranton, PA before heading back.
