This 227-mile journey from Scranton, PA to Oakland, PA is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 4 hours and 27 minutes of driving time. You'll spend about 18% of your time on major highways, with the majority of the drive utilizing roads like the Keystone Shortway and I-99. With a fuel cost estimated at $38, this route offers a straightforward drive through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. It's well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
113.5 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
I 99
33.8 mi
36m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
William Penn Highway
9.7 mi
11m
Portage Street
9.5 mi
13m
US 219
6.7 mi
8m
Railroad Street
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Oakland, 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
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 161Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
9
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi·28 min·Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
34 mi·36 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
12
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
13
Continue on US 22
9.7 mi·11 min·William Penn Highway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward PA 53: Lilly, PortageUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto PA 53
1.2 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·Evergreen Street
17
Continue on PA 53
510 ft·13 sec·Main Street
18
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi·14 sec·Cleveland Street
19
Turn right onto PA 53
9.5 mi·13 min·Portage Street
20
Continue on PA 53
1.2 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
21
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
22
Merge onto US 219
6.7 mi·8 min·US 219
23
Take the exit
3.2 mi·4 min
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
25
Turn left onto Widman Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Widman Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto Solomon Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Solomon Street
27
Turn left onto Wess Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Wess Street
28
Continue on Florida Avenue
0.2 mi·51 sec·Florida Avenue
29
Turn left onto Ferg Street
126 ft·5 sec·Ferg Street
30
Arrive at destination
Ferg Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 27-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With just one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 98.5 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading into longer stretches where services might be less frequent. A practical tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between the Keystone Shortway, I-99, and the American Legion Memorial Highway to ensure a smooth navigation experience.
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 113.5 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.5 miles or 2h 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 3h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, 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 227 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 98.5 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 34 and 202.5 — 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
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
5
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
157.7 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda,...
7
202.5 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Take the exit toward PA 53: Lilly, Portage
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 PA 53: Lilly, Portage
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.19 one way
$72.39 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$40.06
$80.11
premium
$4.81
$42.97
$85.94
diesel
$4.80
$42.86
$85.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.1
0
$23.84
$10.90
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.86
$9.08
EV Truck/SUV
90.8
1
$31.78
$14.53
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Evening
in City of Scranton on Monday
Local time
7:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Areas Of Smoke
SW 13 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 2:29PM EDT until July 18 at 2:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 2:09PM EDT until July 18 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Oakland, PA
Evening
in Oakland on Monday
Local time
7:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 2:29PM EDT until July 18 at 2:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 2:09PM EDT until July 18 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 27m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 219.2
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 227
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 227-mile trip, with only 18% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 98.5 miles along the Keystone Shortway. This suggests a dynamic driving experience, moving from more open highway sections to more intricate local roads. You'll likely experience a variety of road conditions and speeds as you navigate through Pennsylvania.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 227 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 133.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.5 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,596 ft544 ft
Total Climb
2,436 ft
Total Descent
1,591 ft
Highest Point
1,596 ft
~210.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,052 ft
Notable High Points
1,547 ft at ~32.4 miles+650 ft prominence
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 Oakland, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Portage.
Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
Top landmarks
•San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
•Lake Merritt — lagoon in Oakland, California, USA
•Oakland Museum of California — art museum in Oakland, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 227 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Oakland, 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 23 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 133.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.5 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Oakland, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
