Brownstown, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 117.7 miles and takes about 2h 30m via I 81 and PA 183, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region of the state. Expect a mostly highway experience for a straightforward drive. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is a convenient option for getting between these two points efficiently.
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
58.8 miles from Brownstown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
59.6 mi
1h 10m
PA 183
9.9 mi
15m
Stiegel Pike
6 mi
6m
Lancaster Avenue
5.5 mi
6m
South College Street
5.5 mi
6m
Newport Road
5.4 mi
8m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Furnace Hill Pike
4.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,824 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,145
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Brownstown, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on School Lane Avenue
8 ft·2 sec·School Lane Avenue
2
Turn right onto PA 772
0.4 mi·42 sec·South State Street
3
Continue on PA 772
2.0 mi·3 min·Newport Road
4
Continue on PA 772
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
5
Continue on Newport Road
3.4 mi·5 min·Newport Road
6
Turn right onto PA 501
1.7 mi·1 min·Furnace Hills Pike
7
Continue on PA 501
4.2 mi·4 min·Furnace Hill Pike
8
Continue on PA 501
6.0 mi·6 min·Stiegel Pike
9
Continue on PA 501
5.5 mi·6 min·South College Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on PA 501
4.1 mi·4 min·Lancaster Avenue
11
Continue on PA 501
1.2 mi·1 min·Lancaster Avenue
12
Continue on PA 501
0.2 mi·31 sec·Lancaster Avenue
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
14
Merge onto I 78; US 22
3.5 mi·4 min·William Penn Highway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 17Toward PA 419: RehrersburgUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto PA 419
1.9 mi·2 min·Four Point Road
17
Turn left onto PA 183
9.9 mi·15 min·PA 183
18
Turn right onto PA 183
0.7 mi·2 min·Pottsville Street
19
Turn left onto PA 61
2.9 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
20
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
21
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi·2 min·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
22
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
23
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
25
Merge onto I 81
60 mi·1 hr 10 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
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2.5-hour duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility for your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the busiest commuter traffic. You'll only have one recommended stop, so plan for that break strategically. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you begin your longest stretch on I 81.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Brownstown, PA, or about 1h 19m 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 3m
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 Brownstown, 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 Brownstown, PA
This is one driving day of about 117.7 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Brownstown, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.6 and 117.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
29.6 mi into trip|~37m 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
33.3 mi into trip|~41m 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
4
56.5 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
4
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
117.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
$19.20 one way
$38.41 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$21.12
$42.23
premium
$4.86
$22.53
$45.07
diesel
$5.40
$25.04
$50.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
14 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Laurel Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Hazleton, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Shell Station - Tesla Supercharger
Drums, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Wilkes-Barre Township Commons - Tesla Supercharger
Wilkes-Barre Township, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Scranton, PA Rechargery @ Sheetz - Scranton Carbondale Hwy
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
EV Truck/SUV
47.1
0
$16.48
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 26, 2026
Origin
Brownstown, PA
Afternoon
in Brownstown on Sunday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Sunny
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
45°F
New Philadelphia, PA
59 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
6 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
2h 30m 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 24.4
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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 62% of the 117.7 miles on major roads like I 81. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 59.6 miles on I 81 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a higher density of exits and merges on the highway portions.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and PA 183. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 29.6 miles in.
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 117.7 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 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 117.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). 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.
Yes — we found about 9 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 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
