This 171.2-mile journey from Chambersburg, PA, to the City of Scranton, PA, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate on the American Legion Memorial Highway and I-81, with a portion on Lincoln Way East. With 28% of the drive on highways, it offers a blend of faster travel and local road experiences. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $28, making it an economical option for exploring within the Northeast region. This route is best suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
85.6 miles from Chambersburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
117.9 mi
2h 19m
I 81
48.5 mi
58m
Lincoln Way East
1 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
0.7 mi
1m
East Queen Street
0.6 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 117.9 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chambersburg, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on US 11
0.1 mi·28 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 30
0.6 mi·1 min·East Queen Street
3
Merge onto US 30
1.0 mi·2 min·Lincoln Way East
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·26 sec
5
Merge onto I 81
48 mi·58 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
9
Merge onto I 81
0.7 mi·1 min·George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 81
3.4 mi·4 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
115 mi·2 hr 15 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
13
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 27-minute duration, starting your drive from Chambersburg in the morning will allow you to reach Scranton with ample time to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey, but consider making that stop around the midpoint to break up the 171.2 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the American Legion Memorial Highway is quite long, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $28 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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 85.6 miles from Chambersburg, PA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.9 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.6 miles or 1h 45m 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 49m
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 Chambersburg, 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 Chambersburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 171.2 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Chambersburg, 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 117.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 171.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
50.4 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
6
50.5 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
6
55.4 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
171.1 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
$28.38 one way
$56.77 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$31.09
$62.17
premium
$4.93
$33.20
$66.40
diesel
$5.61
$37.80
$75.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.4
0
$17.98
$8.22
Efficient EV
42.8
0
$14.98
$6.85
EV Truck/SUV
68.5
0
$23.97
$10.96
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Chambersburg, PA
Late night
in Chambersburg on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 to 6 mph51% 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
12 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 27m 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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 76.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" on this route, with only 28% of the mileage on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 117.9 miles along the American Legion Memorial Highway, offering a substantial period of consistent driving. As you progress, the road will likely transition between these more direct highway segments and more winding local roads, requiring your attention. This varied terrain means you'll experience different driving conditions throughout the 3-hour and 27-minute journey.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.9 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 81.
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 11 significant decision points across 171.2 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 1.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Chambersburg, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Marysville along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 171.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.9 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. 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 1.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 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.
