Scranton, PA to Hermitage, PA is 293.7 miles and takes about 5h 26m via Keystone Shortway and American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's primarily a surface road experience, so expect a more relaxed pace than interstate travel. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll have ample time to complete the journey without feeling rushed, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion.
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
146.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
254.7 mi
4h 34m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
South Hermitage Road
3.1 mi
6m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Beaver Valley Expressway
0.2 mi
<1m
New Castle Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
East State Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 254.7 mi, about 4h 34m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,070 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,484
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
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 Hermitage, 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
255 mi·4 hr 34 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 4BToward PA 760 North: Sharon-Hermitage
9
Merge onto PA 760
0.2 mi·15 sec·Beaver Valley Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward PA 18 North: Hermitage
11
Merge onto PA 18
341 ft·7 sec·New Castle Road
12
Continue on PA 18
3.1 mi·6 min·South Hermitage Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 62 Business
231 ft·5 sec·East State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
US 62 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 26m estimated drive time, consider an early morning departure from Scranton to maximize daylight. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the 293.7 miles, perhaps around the halfway point. The fuel cost is estimated at $50, so ensure your tank is full before leaving, as this route relies heavily on surface roads where gas stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. Keep an eye on your speed limits, as you'll be passing through various communities on your way to Hermitage.
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 146.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.7 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 65 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.8 miles or 2h 44m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hermitage, 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 293.7 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 254.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 293.6 — 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
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
289.4 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward PA 760 North: Sharon-Hermitage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 4B
Toward PA 760 North: Sharon-Hermitage
5
290.2 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward PA 18 North: Hermitage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 18 North: Hermitage
6
293.6 mi into trip|~5h 26m in|US 62 Business / East State Street
Turn right onto US 62 Business / East State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.69 one way
$103.37 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$56.52
$113.04
premium
$5.23
$60.43
$120.86
diesel
$6.18
$71.45
$142.90
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: 102.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.1
1
$30.84
$14.10
Efficient EV
73.4
0
$25.70
$11.75
EV Truck/SUV
117.5
1
$41.12
$18.80
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Saturday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NW 9 to 14 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 10:37PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 9:09PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Hermitage, PA
Morning
in Hermitage on Saturday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
N 14 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 10:37PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 9:09PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
66°F
Clearfield, PA
147 mi in
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
2 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 26m 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 is almost entirely on surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on local and state routes, with the longest continuous stretch on the Keystone Shortway measuring 254.7 miles. Expect to encounter more local traffic and intersections as you transition away from any limited-access sections. This means you'll likely be navigating through towns and rural areas at a more moderate speed.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 254.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near River Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 293.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 289.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 293.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 254.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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.
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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 289.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hermitage, PA before the return drive.
