This 82.3-mile drive from Scranton to Auburn, Pennsylvania, is estimated to take about 1 hour and 41 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day road trip. You'll navigate primarily along the American Legion Memorial Highway, with portions on Center Avenue and Skyline Drive. With a projected fuel cost of $14, this route offers an economical journey through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. The drive's profile suggests it's more of a turn-heavy local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, so plan for a more engaged driving experience. Since there are no designated stops, you'll have the flexibility to create your own points of interest along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
59.7 mi
1h 10m
Center Avenue
7.1 mi
8m
Skyline Drive
4.4 mi
5m
Route 61 South
3 mi
3m
Market Street
2.3 mi
4m
North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Scranton, PA and Auburn, 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
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 124BToward PA 61 North: Frackville
7
Turn straight onto PA 61
500 ft·13 sec·Skyline Drive
8
Turn uturn onto PA 61
4.3 mi·5 min·Skyline Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on PA 61
1.1 mi·1 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
10
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
11
Continue on PA 61
1.6 mi·2 min·North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
12
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi·14 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
13
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
14
Continue on PA 61
7.1 mi·8 min·Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto PA 895
2.3 mi·4 min·Market Street
17
Arrive at destination
PA 895
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 41 minutes for this 82.3-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility in planning your departure. Aiming for an early start can help you avoid any potential local traffic congestion, especially as you navigate the numerous turns. The $14 fuel cost is quite manageable, so you won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling stops. However, since there are no specific recommended stops, be sure to plan for your own breaks, perhaps around the halfway mark or when you feel the need to stretch your legs. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to the American Legion Memorial Highway signage, as it accounts for the longest continuous stretch and could be where you encounter the most varied driving conditions.
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 41.2 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 49m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 82.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from City of Scranton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on American Legion Memorial Highway for about 59.7 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 0.2 and 79.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|River Street
Turn left onto River Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
61 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Frackville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 124B
Toward PA 61 North: Frackville
8
61.5 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|PA 61 / Skyline Drive
Turn uturn onto PA 61 / Skyline Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.64 one way
$27.29 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.94
$29.89
premium
$4.93
$15.96
$31.92
diesel
$5.61
$18.17
$36.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.20
$3.29
EV Truck/SUV
32.9
0
$11.52
$5.27
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
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
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 7:23PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Auburn, PA
Late night
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live 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
17 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 73.8
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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 for this 82.3-mile journey. While only 25% of the route is on highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 59.7 miles along the American Legion Memorial Highway. This suggests a primary focus on local roads that may involve frequent turns and varied speed limits. The profile indicates a dynamic driving experience, shifting between more open highway sections and tighter local routes. You'll likely encounter a mix of landscapes as you traverse through Pennsylvania, so keep your attention on the road as it winds through different terrains.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.7 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near River Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from City of Scranton, PA to Auburn, PA is easy. At 1h 41m with 4% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 61 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 82.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.7 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 61 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. 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 Auburn, PA before heading back.
