Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from City of Scranton, PA to Pleasant Hill, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
104.8 mi
169 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Pleasant Hill, PA
Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare
Trip Overview
City of Scranton, PA to Pleasant Hill, PA is 104.8 miles and takes about 2h 9m via American Legion Memorial Highway and PA 72, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward drive. With a low highway percentage and mostly surface roads, it's a good option if you prefer a less intense driving experience. The relatively short distance and modest fuel cost make it an accessible choice for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 93.3 mi | 1h 49m |
| PA 72 | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North 22nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North 16th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lehman Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Fisher Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 93.3 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,824 veh/hr typical · worst 2,145
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 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 Pleasant Hill, 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
93 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward PA 72: Lebanon
7
Keep slight left at fork
328 ft
·
15 sec
8
Turn left onto Fisher Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Fisher Avenue
9
Turn right onto PA 72
7.8 mi
·
12 min
·
PA 72
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto North 22nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 22nd Street
11
Turn left onto Lehman Street
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Lehman Street
12
Turn right onto North 16th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 16th Street
13
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Chestnut Street
14
Turn left onto South 18th Street
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
South 18th Street
15
Arrive at destination
South 18th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 9m estimated drive time, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid any potential evening traffic. With no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, especially considering the 93.3-mile stretch on the American Legion Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as dedicated service areas might be less frequent on the surface road portions. This route's flexibility means you can depart at your convenience.
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 52.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.3 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 2m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant Hill, 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 104.8 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 93.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before American Legion Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Blue Ridge Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Luzerne County Rest Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.6 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 104.7 — 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
94.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
104.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
South 18th Street
Turn left onto South 18th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.10 one way
$34.20 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.56 | $18.80 | $37.60 |
| premium | $4.86 | $20.06 | $40.13 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $22.29 | $44.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $11.00 | $5.03 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.17 | $4.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.67 | $6.71 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 2 to 6 mph
34% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Pleasant Hill, PA
Morning in Pleasant Hill on Sunday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Hometown, PA
52 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
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
2h 9m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 101.1
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only about 7% on highways. You'll experience 93.3 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect to navigate through towns and local traffic for most of the drive, rather than sustained highway cruising. The longest stretch on a single highway is substantial, but the overall profile suggests frequent intersections and variable speeds.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.3 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near River Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 104.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.3 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pleasant Hill, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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