Scranton, PA to Calumet, PA is 263.9 miles and takes about 5h 21m via Keystone Shortway and I-99, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region to itself. It's primarily a surface road experience, suggesting you'll be passing through towns and varying landscapes rather than exclusively high-speed highway driving. Given the single-day recommendation and moderate duration, it's a manageable drive for most.
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
132 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
34.1 mi
43m
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
North Walnut Street
7.8 mi
11m
State Route 981
5.6 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,120 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,611
Quietest
2 AM
~194 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Calumet, 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
18 mi·24 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward PA 217: Blairsville
17
Continue on PA 217
0.3 mi·41 sec·PA 217
18
Turn right onto PA 217
7.8 mi·11 min·North Walnut Street
19
Continue on PA 217
0.2 mi·14 sec·East Owens Avenue
20
Turn left onto PA 217
0.1 mi·11 sec·Leo Street
21
Continue on PA 217
0.3 mi·33 sec·Y Street
22
Turn right onto PA 217
3.8 mi·6 min·West 4th Avenue
23
Turn right onto US 30
2.9 mi·4 min·Lincoln Highway
24
Turn left onto PA 981
0.4 mi·45 sec·Technology Way
25
Continue on PA 981
0.5 mi·1 min·Clearview Drive
26
Continue on PA 981
0.2 mi·31 sec·Pleasant Unity Road
27
Enter roundabout onto PA 981
141 ft·3 sec·Pleasant Unity Road
28
Continue on PA 981
0.8 mi·1 min·Pleasant Unity Road
29
Continue on PA 981
2.7 mi·4 min·State Route 981
30
Turn right onto PA 130; PA 981
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
31
Turn left onto PA 981
2.9 mi·5 min·State Route 981
32
Arrive at destination
PA 981
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 263.9-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $45, you can plan for a straightforward trip. The longest stretch without a major change is 98.5 miles, so factor in a break around that point if needed. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace, but be mindful of the transition from highway to surface roads, which can add time if you encounter local traffic.
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 132 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 2h 29m 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 58 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132 miles or 2h 29m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Calumet, 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 263.9 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 34 and 257 — 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
6
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
5
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
157.7 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda,...
6
257 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|PA 981 / Pleasant Unity Road
Enter roundabout onto PA 981 / Pleasant Unity Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.62 one way
$93.24 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$50.92
$101.84
premium
$5.25
$54.50
$109.01
diesel
$6.20
$64.41
$128.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.2
0
$27.71
$12.67
Efficient EV
66
0
$23.09
$10.56
EV Truck/SUV
105.6
1
$36.95
$16.89
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 9, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Saturday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
W 2 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Calumet, PA
Morning
in Calumet on Saturday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
SW 1 to 6 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 218.4
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 218.4
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 263.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 15% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 98.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning. Expect to encounter more frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you move from highway segments to local roads. The overall driving experience will likely involve cruising through communities and potentially dealing with more traffic signals than a pure interstate trip.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 34 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 263.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 133.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.5 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,842 ft571 ft
Total Climb
1,976 ft
Total Descent
1,711 ft
Highest Point
1,842 ft
~207.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,271 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 Calumet, PA, road signs point toward Altoona and Hollidaysburg.
Altoona
157.7 mi in|~2h 59m|via I 99; US 220
Hollidaysburg
191.5 mi in|~3h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 263.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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 Calumet, 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 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 133.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.5 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Calumet, PA before the return drive.
