Traveling from Scranton to Drexel Hill is a straightforward 121.6-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 26 minutes. Because this trip is entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $20 on fuel, making this an affordable option for a quick transit between the two cities. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, ensuring a consistent pace throughout your trip. Since it is a highway-focused drive, it is best suited for those looking to reach their destination efficiently rather than those seeking a leisurely backroads experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·Lansdowne Avenue
20
Turn right onto Garrett Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Garrett Road
21
Turn right
143 ft·15 sec
22
Turn left
236 ft·17 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours near the Philadelphia metro area is always a smart move. You will not need to plan for any formal stops unless you prefer to take a break, as the 2 hour and 26 minute duration is manageable for most drivers. Keep a small amount of extra cash or a digital payment method ready for tolls, which are common on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. Before you head out, check your fuel levels to ensure you can cover the $20 estimated cost without needing to hunt for a station mid-trip. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival time precisely to meet your schedule.
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 60.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.8 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Drexel Hill, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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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.
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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 121.6 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 95 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 10.1 and 116.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
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 I 476, I 81 North, PATP
6
10.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
5
10.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
7
105.6 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
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 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.16 one way
$40.32 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.08
$44.16
premium
$4.93
$23.58
$47.17
diesel
$5.61
$26.85
$53.70
Estimated Tolls: $12.35
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(95 mi)$12.35
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
$20
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.5
0
$12.77
$5.84
Efficient EV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
EV Truck/SUV
48.6
0
$17.02
$7.78
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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 11, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Drexel Hill, PA
Late night
in Drexel Hill on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 11 at 3:53AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
4 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
2h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, with 87% of your travel time spent on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which accounts for a 95-mile stretch of the journey. The experience is primarily an interstate grind, transitioning later onto the Mid-County Expressway and the American Legion Memorial Highway to reach your final destination. Because of this layout, the drive feels consistent and focused, moving you rapidly through the landscape. Expect a predictable ride that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity over winding scenery or technical local maneuvers.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 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 15 significant decision points across 121.6 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 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,827 ft127 ft
Total Climb
1,812 ft
Total Descent
2,309 ft
Highest Point
1,827 ft
~20.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,701 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 Drexel Hill, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Allentown.
Patp
10.1 mi in|~12m
Allentown
10.1 mi in|~12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 121.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.35 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. 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.
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 Drexel Hill, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Drexel Hill, PA before heading back.
