Scranton to Darlington is 311.4 miles and takes about 5h 55m via Keystone Shortway, American Legion Memorial Highway, and Beaver Valley Expressway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a drive with frequent turns, suggesting a more local and perhaps less direct path than a pure interstate journey. Given the duration and the turn-heavy profile, it's a feasible same-day trip, but plan for a full day of driving. Consider this route if you prefer a journey that feels more connected to the local landscape rather than just covering ground on a high-speed highway.
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
155.7 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
243.9 mi
4h 22m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Beaver Valley Expressway
10.4 mi
11m
Galilee Road
6.6 mi
11m
Mercer-New Wilmington Road
6.3 mi
8m
South New Castle Street
2.4 mi
4m
Elmwood Boulevard
1.9 mi
3m
Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 243.9 mi, about 4h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Scranton, PA and Darlington, 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
244 mi·4 hr 22 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 15Toward US 19: Mercer
9
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft·7 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 19
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Erie Street
11
Turn left onto Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Steingrabe Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto PA 158
6.3 mi·8 min·Mercer-New Wilmington Road
13
Continue on PA 158
0.8 mi·1 min·North Market Street
14
Turn right onto Beechwood Road
0.2 mi·40 sec·Beechwood Road
15
Turn left onto PA 158
2.4 mi·4 min·South New Castle Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto PA 18
0.8 mi·1 min·PA 18
17
Turn right onto Glen Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Glen Road
18
Turn right onto Mitchell Road
460 ft·8 sec·Mitchell Road
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
20
Merge onto I 376
5.0 mi·5 min·Beaver Valley Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376 Toll
5.3 mi·5 min·Beaver Valley Expressway
Toward PittsburghUse the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward PA 168: Moravia
23
Keep slight right at fork
130 ft·3 sec
Toward PA 168: Moravia
24
Turn straight onto PA 168
6.6 mi·11 min·Galilee Road
25
Continue on PA 168
1.9 mi·3 min·Elmwood Boulevard
26
Continue on PA 168
415 ft·8 sec·2nd Street
27
Arrive at destination
PA 168
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 55m drive, consider an early morning departure from Scranton to maximize daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. With 311.4 miles and a turn-heavy profile, breaking it up with a brief stop around the halfway point could be beneficial, though the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway is quite long. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to local roads where services might be less frequent than on major interstates. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for the shift from the 243.9-mile Keystone Shortway segment to potentially narrower, more winding local roads as you approach Darlington.
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 155.7 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243.9 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 69 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.7 miles or 2h 53m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Darlington, 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 311.4 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 243.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 34 and 302.7 — 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
278.6 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 19: Mercer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 15
Toward US 19: Mercer
6
279 mi into trip|~5h 7m in|Steingrabe Road
Turn left onto Steingrabe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
297.1 mi into trip|~5h 34m in|I 376 Toll / Beaver Valley Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376 Toll / Beaver Valley Expressway toward Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Pittsburgh
6
302.7 mi into trip|~5h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 168: Moravia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 168: Moravia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.63 one way
$103.25 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$56.54
$113.08
premium
$4.93
$60.39
$120.78
diesel
$5.61
$68.75
$137.51
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: 109 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.4
1
$32.70
$14.95
Efficient EV
77.9
0
$27.25
$12.46
EV Truck/SUV
124.6
1
$43.60
$19.93
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Darlington, PA
Late night
in Darlington on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
5 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
5h 55m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a dynamic experience with a 40% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. However, the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile indicates that you'll also navigate more winding, local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 243.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of consistent travel. As you progress, the road character will likely shift, transitioning between these highway segments and more intricate local roads, requiring your attention to be on alert for changes in speed and direction.
Only 4% 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: 243.9 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 18 significant decision points across 311.4 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 278.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 279 miles (Steingrabe Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 311.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 243.9 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 Darlington, 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 278.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 279 miles (Steingrabe Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Darlington, PA before the return drive.
