This 103.4-mile drive from Carroll, PA to Scranton, PA takes about 2 hours and 1 minute, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a bit of East Valley Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's an economical journey. The route offers a mixed drive experience, suitable for a single-day adventure without needing an overnight stop. Both your starting point and destination are within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, keeping the travel geographically focused.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.7 miles from Carroll, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
67.1 mi
1h 13m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
East Valley Road
1 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Biden Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Wyoming Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 67.1 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carroll, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on East Valley Road
1.0 mi·2 min·East Valley Road
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
3
Merge onto I 80
67 mi·1 hr 13 min·Keystone Shortway
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
5
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
7
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
10
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
11
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan to leave when you feel most rested, as there are no recommended stops included in the data. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 67.1-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. The $17 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a small buffer for unexpected detours or variations in gas prices.
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 51.7 miles from Carroll, PA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.1 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.7 miles or 58m 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 37m
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 Carroll, 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 Carroll, PA
This is one driving day of about 103.4 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Carroll, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 67.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.6 and 103.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 16m 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
4
101.7 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
102.8 mi into trip|~2h in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
103.2 mi into trip|~2h in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
103.4 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.14 one way
$34.28 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.77
$37.55
premium
$4.93
$20.05
$40.11
diesel
$5.61
$22.83
$45.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31
0
$10.86
$4.96
Efficient EV
25.9
0
$9.05
$4.14
EV Truck/SUV
41.4
0
$14.48
$6.62
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 16, 2026
Origin
Carroll, PA
Morning
in Carroll on Sunday
Local time
11:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
11:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
26 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 1m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 31% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 67.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you transition to I-81 and then East Valley Road, the character of the drive will likely shift, potentially introducing more varied scenery or local road conditions. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more localized driving.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.1 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 68.6 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carroll, PA to Scranton, PA is easy. At 2h 1m with 31% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 101.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 102.8 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.
The longest stretch is about 67.1 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 101.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 102.8 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scranton, PA before heading back.
