City of Scranton, PA to Buffalo, PA is 318.2 miles and takes about 6h 29m via Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. With a recommended one-day drive, the route primarily uses surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience compared to interstate-heavy trips. Budgeting around $58 for fuel should cover the estimated 318.2 miles, making it an accessible option for a single day's travel.
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
159.1 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
50.7 mi
1h 6m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
40.6 mi
56m
I 99
33.8 mi
36m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
12.2 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Buffalo, 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
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 161Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
9
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi·28 min·Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
34 mi·36 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
12
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
13
Continue on US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
14
Continue on US 22
13 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 22
34 mi·47 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward PA 66: Greensburg, DelmontUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
417 ft·16 sec
Toward PA 66 South: GreensburgUse the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto PA 66
0.9 mi·1 min·State Route 66
Toward PA 66 South: GreensburgUse the left lane.
19
Continue on PA Tpke 66
12 mi·13 min·Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 0BToward I 70, I 76, PATP: New Stanton
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton
22
Continue on I 70
41 mi·56 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 17Toward PA 18: Jefferson AvenueUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·East Wylie Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto PA 18
1.5 mi·3 min·Jefferson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on PA 844
4.7 mi·6 min·Washington Pike
27
Arrive at destination
PA 844
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day trip of about 6.5 hours, leaving Scranton in the morning will get you to Buffalo with plenty of daylight remaining. The route has just one recommended stop, but with 98.5-mile highway stretches and a profile of mostly surface roads, you might find yourself needing to pull over more often for fuel or a break. Plan to refuel before hitting any extended surface road sections, especially if you're not familiar with the availability in between towns. The $58 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but monitor your gauge, particularly after leaving the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
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 159.1 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 70 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.1 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, 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 318.2 miles and 6h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 98.5 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 256.9 and 311.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
256.9 mi into trip|~5h 4m in
Take the exit toward PA 66: Greensburg, Delmont
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 PA 66: Greensburg, Delmont
8
257.1 mi into trip|~5h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
7
257.2 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|PA 66 / State Route 66
Merge onto PA 66 / State Route 66 toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
7
311.7 mi into trip|~6h 17m in
Take the exit toward PA 18: Jefferson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward PA 18: Jefferson Avenue
7
311.9 mi into trip|~6h 18m in|East Wylie Avenue
Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.74 one way
$101.47 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$56.15
$112.30
premium
$4.81
$60.23
$120.47
diesel
$4.80
$60.08
$120.16
Estimated Tolls: $0.85
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
(12.2 mi)$0.85
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
$51
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.5
1
$33.41
$15.27
Efficient EV
79.6
0
$27.84
$12.73
EV Truck/SUV
127.3
1
$44.55
$20.36
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buffalo, PA
Late night
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Smoke
NW 2 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
1 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
6h 29m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 219.5
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 219.5
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 285.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 11% of this 318.2-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway, the Keystone Shortway, spans 98.5 miles. After that, expect to transition to mostly surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Keep an eye out for frequent intersections and changes in speed limits as you move from highway cruising to local roads.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 256.9 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 318.2 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 256.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 257.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.2 miles (PA 66 / State Route 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,000 ft554 ft
Total Climb
2,431 ft
Total Descent
1,876 ft
Highest Point
2,000 ft
~204.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,446 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between City of Scranton, PA and Buffalo, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Delmont and Patp: New Stanton.
The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 29m. Total distance: 318.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 29m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.85 in tolls one way, starting with Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass. 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.
Yes — we found about 27 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 Buffalo, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 256.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 257.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.2 miles (PA 66 / State Route 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Flight 93 National Memorial and Fort Necessity National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Buffalo, PA before the return drive.
