Embarking on a 324.2-mile journey from Cambridge Springs, PA, to Scranton, PA, will take approximately 6 hours and 4 minutes of driving time. This trip is a manageable day trip, though you could easily split it over two days if you prefer a more relaxed pace. You'll primarily navigate via I-79 and I-81, with a significant portion on the Keystone Shortway. With an estimated fuel cost of $54, it's an economical option for exploring within Pennsylvania. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, offering a taste of the Northeast's varied landscapes.
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
162.1 miles from Cambridge Springs, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
240.3 mi
4h 19m
I 79
37.2 mi
39m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
4.6 mi
6m
PA-198
3.1 mi
5m
Route 6/Route 19
1.3 mi
2m
River Street
1.2 mi
2m
Venango Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 240.3 mi, about 4h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge Springs, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 408
276 ft·12 sec·Church Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 19
0.8 mi·2 min·Venango Avenue
3
Continue on US 6; US 19
2.5 mi·3 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
4
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.3 mi·39 sec·River Street
5
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.2 mi·47 sec·Cussewago Street
6
Turn left onto US 6; US 19
0.5 mi·1 min·Church Street
7
Continue on US 6; US 19
1.9 mi·2 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
8
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.2 mi·14 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Army
9
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.2 mi·16 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
10
Continue on US 6; US 19
1.3 mi·2 min·Route 6/Route 19
11
Enter roundabout onto PA 198
28 ft·0 sec·PA-198
12
Continue on PA 198
3.1 mi·5 min·PA-198
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
14
Merge onto I 79
37 mi·39 min·I 79
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
16
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 19 min·Keystone Shortway
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
18
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
20
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
23
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
24
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, consider departing early to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to make stops. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without major highway transitions can be significant. The $54 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. A practical tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the Keystone Shortway's specific road conditions before you depart, as it can vary.
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 162.1 miles from Cambridge Springs, PA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.3 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 71 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.1 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
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 Cambridge Springs, 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 Cambridge Springs, PA
This is one driving day of about 324.2 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Cambridge Springs, 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 240.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 324.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 6; US 19 / Venango Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 19 / Venango Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
289.3 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
7
323.5 mi into trip|~6h 2m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
324 mi into trip|~6h 3m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
324.1 mi into trip|~6h 4m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.75 one way
$107.50 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.87
$117.73
premium
$4.93
$62.87
$125.75
diesel
$5.61
$71.58
$143.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.3
1
$34.04
$15.56
Efficient EV
81.1
0
$28.37
$12.97
EV Truck/SUV
129.7
1
$45.39
$20.75
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Cambridge Springs, PA
Late night
in Cambridge Springs on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
N 8 mph13% 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
10 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 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a dynamic driving experience, with only 23% of the drive on highways. You'll spend a good amount of time on local roads, characterized by frequent turns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 240.3 miles along the Keystone Shortway, so be prepared for a mix of driving styles. Expect the road to change character as you progress, moving from potentially more rural segments to busier sections closer to urban areas.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 6; US 19 / Venango Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 6; US 19 / Venango Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 289.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 323.5 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 6h 4m. Total distance: 324.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.3 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. 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 (US 6; US 19 / Venango Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 289.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 323.5 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.
