Scranton to Mont Alto is 175.5 miles and takes about 3h 37m via American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a local drive with frequent turns, so plan for a more engaged driving experience. It's a manageable distance, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
162.9 mi
3h 13m
Black Gap Road
5.2 mi
9m
Anthony Highway
4.9 mi
10m
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
0.9 mi
1m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Lincoln Way East
0.1 mi
<1m
Park Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 162.9 mi, about 3h 13m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,410 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,787
Quietest
1 AM
~321 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Mont Alto, 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
118 mi·2 hr 19 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 81
0.9 mi·1 min·George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
7
Continue on I 81
45 mi·53 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Scotland
9
Turn left onto PA 997
5.2 mi·9 min·Black Gap Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 30; PA 997
0.1 mi·17 sec·Lincoln Way East
11
Turn left onto PA 997
4.9 mi·10 min·Anthony Highway
12
Turn sharp left onto PA 233
80 ft·1 sec·Park Street
13
Arrive at destination
PA 233
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 37-minute estimated drive time and 175.5-mile distance, a single day is perfectly feasible for this trip. Consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for the frequent turns and potentially slower local road speeds. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, plan your fuel stops accordingly, though the longest stretch is over 160 miles, so you won't need to stop for gas too frequently. The 'turn-heavy' profile means staying alert is key, so a brief stop midway might be beneficial for a quick stretch before continuing.
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 87.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.9 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mont Alto, 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 175.5 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 162.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 175.5 — 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
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
170.5 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|US 30; PA 997 / Lincoln Way East
At end of road, turn right onto US 30; PA 997 / Lincoln Way East
Navigation decision point
5
175.5 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|PA 233 / Park Street
Turn sharp left onto PA 233 / Park Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.63 one way
$57.27 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$31.49
$62.97
premium
$4.86
$33.60
$67.20
diesel
$5.40
$37.33
$74.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.43
$8.42
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
EV Truck/SUV
70.2
0
$24.57
$11.23
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 24, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mont Alto, PA
Afternoon
in Mont Alto on Sunday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
3h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 139.2
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 96.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive' with no highway miles, meaning you'll be navigating local roads for the entire 175.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 162.9 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway, offering a substantial period of consistent driving before reaching more varied sections. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires consistent attention due to frequent changes in direction, rather than long, straight highway stretches.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.9 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near River Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from City of Scranton, PA to Mont Alto, PA is easy. At 3h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Mont Alto, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Scotland along the way.
Scotland
165.1 mi in|~3h 16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 175.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 162.9 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Mont Alto, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
