Traveling from Chadds Ford to Scranton covers 134.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes. Since this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your path takes you through the heart of Pennsylvania, utilizing a combination of Baltimore Pike, the Media Bypass, and I-476. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $22, this is an affordable excursion for a quick getaway. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, the route is straightforward enough to manage in one go. Expect a direct experience that transitions you from the suburbs near Chadds Ford into the distinct terrain of Scranton.
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
67.3 miles from Chadds Ford, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Because this is a turn-heavy local route, try to depart during off-peak hours to avoid the inevitable congestion often found on local thoroughfares. Since you aren't spending much time on high-speed interstates, use the flexibility of the shorter 2-hour and 18-minute duration to plan your own pace rather than rushing. Keep your $22 fuel budget in mind when planning your stops, as local roads can lead to more stop-and-go driving than you might expect on a major highway. A smart tip for this specific route is to double-check your GPS navigation settings before leaving Chadds Ford, as the reliance on local roads like Baltimore Pike can be tricky if you miss a turn.
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 67.3 miles from Chadds Ford, PA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.9 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 30 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.3 miles or 1h 27m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Chadds Ford, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Chadds Ford, PA
This is one driving day of about 134.5 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Chadds Ford, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 94.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 133.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.8 mi into trip|~17m in|US 1 / Media Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1 / Media Bypass toward US 1 North: Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 North: Springfield
7
13.2 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 476: Plymouth Meeting, Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 476: Plymouth Meeting, Chester
8
13.5 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
6
13.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Turn left toward I 476 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 476 North
7
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m 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
$22.30 one way
$44.60 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$24.42
$48.84
premium
$4.93
$26.08
$52.17
diesel
$5.61
$29.70
$59.39
Estimated Tolls: $12.34
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(94.9 mi)$12.34
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
$22
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.12
$6.46
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
EV Truck/SUV
53.8
0
$18.83
$8.61
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 13, 2026
Origin
Chadds Ford, PA
Morning
in Chadds Ford on Tuesday
Local time
11:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
11:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Rain Showers
SW 8 to 18 mph27% 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
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
2h 44m 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.
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 23.2
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 18.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this path requires you to navigate varied road types rather than relying on a steady highway cruise. You will spend your time navigating local roads and bypasses, as the highway share for this trip is 0%. This layout creates a more technical driving experience where you will be making frequent adjustments rather than maintaining a constant speed on long, open stretches. Stay alert, as the winding nature of the local segments means the road character changes frequently as you make your way north.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in near US 1 / Media Bypass.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 134.5 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 9.8 miles (US 1 / Media Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,811 ft164 ft
Total Climb
2,179 ft
Total Descent
1,597 ft
Highest Point
1,811 ft
~115.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,647 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chadds Ford, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Chester along the way.
Chadds Ford is a township of 3,700 people (as of 2016) on the western outskirts of Philadelphia in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
The Chadds Ford community was named after John Chadds, who began operating a ferry there in 1737. Historically, one of the major events that draws tourists near is the Battle of the Brandywine fought by George Washington and his troops, which was a major defeat for troops in 1777.
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 44m. Total distance: 134.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.34 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania 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.
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 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 9.8 miles (US 1 / Media Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — First State National Historical Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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.
