The City of Scranton, PA to Ambridge, PA is 328.1 miles and takes about 6h 6m via Keystone Shortway, I 79, and American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to a different part of the Northeast. With a mostly surface roads profile, expect a drive that feels less like a freeway dash and more like navigating through towns and countryside. It's a solid one-day option if you're looking for a direct route across the state.
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
164 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.9 mi
4h 18m
I 79
37.3 mi
40m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Ohio River Boulevard
5.8 mi
7m
Freedom Crider Road
4.4 mi
6m
Freedom Road
2.5 mi
4m
Crows Run Road
1.5 mi
2m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.9 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,466
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 City of Scranton, PA and Ambridge, PA.
1
Start on Cedar Avenue
0.1 mi·11 sec·Cedar Avenue
2
Continue on Cedar Avenue
400 ft·12 sec·Cedar Avenue
3
Turn left onto River Street
0.9 mi·1 min·River Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
5
Merge onto I 81
33 mi·39 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
7
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 79 South: Pittsburgh
9
Merge onto I 79
37 mi·40 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 78-77Toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania TurnpikeUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 78Toward US 19, PA 228: Cranberry, MarsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right
133 ft·5 sec
Toward Cranberry
13
Merge onto PA 228
0.2 mi·23 sec·Mars Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on Freedom Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Freedom Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Freedom Crider Road
16
Enter roundabout onto Freedom Crider Road
98 ft·1 sec·Freedom Crider Road
17
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.0 mi·2 min·Freedom Crider Road
18
Turn straight onto Crows Run Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Crows Run Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto PA 65
5.8 mi·7 min·Ohio River Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto PA 989
0.4 mi·52 sec·8th Street
21
Turn right onto Duss Avenue
99 ft·2 sec·Duss Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Duss Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving Scranton in the morning, around 8 or 9 AM, should get you to Ambridge with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is recommended for a single day, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. Given the drive's profile, which is mostly surface roads, plan for your single stop to be a bit longer to account for potential traffic delays or to grab a meal. Keep an eye on your fuel level, especially as you get closer to Ambridge, as the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway is quite extensive. Your estimated fuel cost is $55, so budget accordingly.
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 164 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.9 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 72 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ambridge, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Scranton, 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 City of Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 328.1 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from City of Scranton, 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 239.9 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 34 and 313.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
34 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
5
275 mi into trip|~5h 3m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
312.3 mi into trip|~5h 43m in
Take the exit toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 78-77
Toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike
9
312.8 mi into trip|~5h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 19, PA 228: Cranberry, Mars
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 78
Toward US 19, PA 228: Cranberry, Mars
6
313.3 mi into trip|~5h 45m in|PA 228 / Mars Road
Merge onto PA 228 / Mars Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.32 one way
$104.63 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$57.90
$115.79
premium
$4.81
$62.11
$124.21
diesel
$4.80
$61.95
$123.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.4
1
$34.45
$15.75
Efficient EV
82
0
$28.71
$13.12
EV Truck/SUV
131.2
1
$45.93
$21.00
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ambridge, PA
Late night
in Ambridge on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Smoke
0 mph0% 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
3 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 6m 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?
You'll spend about 11% of the 328.1 miles on highways, with the bulk of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch without a major highway shift is 239.9 miles along the Keystone Shortway. Expect a significant portion of your drive to involve navigating through more populated areas and potentially encountering more frequent intersections as you transition from highway segments to the American Legion Memorial Highway and I 79. This means you'll likely experience a mix of cruising and more stop-and-go driving.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.9 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 34 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 328.1 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 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 275 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 312.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 328.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.9 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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 Ambridge, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 275 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 312.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ambridge, PA before the return drive.
