This 148-mile drive from Bridgeton, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is a straightforward one-day trip, typically taking around 3 hours and 26 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $25, it's an economical option for exploring more of Pennsylvania's Northeast region. You'll primarily be on I-81 and PA-183, offering a mixed driving experience. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day adventure, allowing you to arrive in Scranton with plenty of time to spare. It's a practical choice for anyone looking to connect two points within the state without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74 miles from Bridgeton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
59.6 mi
1h 10m
PA 183
9.9 mi
15m
Holtwood Road
9.6 mi
13m
Lititz Pike
6.1 mi
11m
Willow Street Pike
6.1 mi
11m
Stiegel Pike
6 mi
6m
Lancaster Avenue
5.5 mi
6m
South College Street
5.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgeton, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Owad Road
521 ft·20 sec·Owad Road
2
Turn sharp right onto Bridgeton Road
2.9 mi·6 min·Bridgeton Road
3
Turn right onto PA 74
2.1 mi·3 min·Delta Road
4
Turn left onto PA 372
9.6 mi·13 min·Holtwood Road
5
Turn left onto Lancaster Pike
5.1 mi·7 min·Lancaster Pike
6
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 272
0.4 mi·30 sec·Lancaster Pike
7
Continue on PA 272
6.1 mi·11 min·Willow Street Pike
8
Continue on US 222; PA 272
0.2 mi·32 sec·Highland Avenue
9
Continue on US 222; PA 272
1.8 mi·5 min·South Queen Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto East Liberty Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·East Liberty Street
11
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272
490 ft·18 sec·North Duke Street
12
Continue on US 222; PA 272
6.1 mi·11 min·Lititz Pike
13
Continue on PA 501
1.7 mi·2 min·South Broad Street
14
Continue on PA 501
2.4 mi·3 min·Furnace Hills Pike
15
Continue on PA 501
4.2 mi·4 min·Furnace Hill Pike
16
Continue on PA 501
6.0 mi·6 min·Stiegel Pike
17
Continue on PA 501
5.5 mi·6 min·South College Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on PA 501
4.1 mi·4 min·Lancaster Avenue
19
Continue on PA 501
1.2 mi·1 min·Lancaster Avenue
20
Continue on PA 501
0.2 mi·31 sec·Lancaster Avenue
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
3.5 mi·4 min·William Penn Highway
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 17Toward PA 419: RehrersburgUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn left onto PA 419
1.9 mi·2 min·Four Point Road
25
Turn left onto PA 183
9.9 mi·15 min·PA 183
26
Turn right onto PA 183
0.7 mi·2 min·Pottsville Street
27
Turn left onto PA 61
2.9 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
28
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
29
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi·2 min·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
30
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
31
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
33
Merge onto I 81
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 81
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
35
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
36
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
37
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 26-minute drive, departing Bridgeton in the morning should allow you to reach Scranton with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break. The estimated fuel cost of $25 is budget-friendly, but it's always wise to check your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 59.6-mile stretch on I-81. Since this is a single-day trip, you can afford to be spontaneous with your timing and any brief stops you might want to make along the way.
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 74 miles from Bridgeton, PA, or about 1h 54m 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 33 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 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 Bridgeton, 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 Bridgeton, PA
This is one driving day of about 148 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Bridgeton, 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 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 147.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Bridgeton Road
Turn sharp right onto Bridgeton Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
28.3 mi into trip|~50m in|US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street
Navigation decision point
7
59.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
7
63.7 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward PA 419: Rehrersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward PA 419: Rehrersburg
7
147.9 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
$24.54 one way
$49.07 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$26.87
$53.75
premium
$4.93
$28.70
$57.41
diesel
$5.61
$32.68
$65.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.54
$7.10
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.95
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.72
$9.47
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Bridgeton, PA
Morning
in Bridgeton on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 to 6 mph51% chanceLive forecast
61°F
South Lebanon, PA
74 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
14 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
3h 26m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 56.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 148-mile journey, with 49% of the route utilizing highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.6 miles on I-81, providing a period of consistent travel. However, the drive also incorporates sections of PA-183 and Holtwood Road, suggesting a shift in pace and road type as you progress. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway cruising and potentially more winding or local road navigation, keeping the driving experience varied.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 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?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near Bridgeton Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 148 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 0.1 miles (Bridgeton Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 28.3 miles (US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 148 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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 0.1 miles (Bridgeton Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 28.3 miles (US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
