The City of Scranton, PA to Independence, PA is 330.4 miles and takes about 6 hours 12 minutes via the Keystone Shortway, Beaver Valley Expressway, and American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate experience. With only one recommended stop and a single recommended day, this route is manageable for a focused drive.
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
165.2 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
243.9 mi
4h 22m
Beaver Valley Expressway
35.3 mi
37m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Mercer-New Wilmington Road
6.3 mi
8m
Independence Road
2.6 mi
4m
South New Castle Street
2.4 mi
4m
Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi
1m
Glen Road
1.1 mi
2m
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 Independence, 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
30 mi·32 min·Beaver Valley Expressway
Toward PittsburghUse the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 45Toward AliquippaUse the straight / right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
374 ft·11 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn left onto Green Garden Road
167 ft·13 sec·Green Garden Road
25
Turn left onto Independence Road
2.6 mi·4 min·Independence Road
26
Keep slight left at fork onto Independence Road
181 ft·9 sec·Independence Road
27
Continue on Independence Road
100 ft·4 sec·Independence Road
28
Arrive at destination
Independence Road
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of just over six hours, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the longest stretch of 243.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway with a brief rest to stay alert. The fuel cost is estimated at $55, so ensure your tank is full before departing Scranton. Since most of the route is on surface roads, keep an eye on your speed and be mindful of local traffic patterns, especially as you approach your destination.
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 165.2 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 3h 4m 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 73 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.2 miles or 3h 4m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, 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 330.4 miles and 6h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 34 and 327.6 — 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
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
7
327.3 mi into trip|~6h 6m in
Take the exit toward Aliquippa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward Aliquippa
6
327.6 mi into trip|~6h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.78 one way
$109.55 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.99
$119.98
premium
$4.93
$64.08
$128.15
diesel
$5.61
$72.95
$145.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.1
1
$34.69
$15.86
Efficient EV
82.6
0
$28.91
$13.22
EV Truck/SUV
132.2
1
$46.26
$21.15
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
8:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Isolated Rain And Snow Showers
NW 13 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Independence, PA
Morning
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
8:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
21 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
6h 12m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with only 11% of the total mileage on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 243.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which will likely feel like rural cruising for an extended period before transitioning to other roads. Be prepared for frequent intersections and traffic signals once you move off the main highway segments.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 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 22 significant decision points across 330.4 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 279 miles (Steingrabe Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 297.1 miles (I 376 Toll / Beaver Valley Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from City of Scranton, PA to Independence, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Pittsburgh along the way.
Pittsburgh
297.1 mi in|~5h 34m|via I 376 Toll
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 12m. Total distance: 330.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
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.
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 Independence, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 279 miles (Steingrabe Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 297.1 miles (I 376 Toll / Beaver Valley Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Independence, PA before the return drive.
