Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
165.8 mi
267 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Scotland, PA
Lucas Carlini
Scranton, PA to Scotland, PA is 165.8 miles and takes about 3h 18m via American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, making it a straightforward journey between two points in Pennsylvania. Given its relatively short duration and the nature of the roads, it's best suited for a single-day excursion. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting you'll be navigating local roads more than open highways. Plan for a day trip where flexibility is key.
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
82.9 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 162.9 mi | 3h 13m |
| George N. Wade Memorial Bridge | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Scotland Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Black Gap Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Scranton, PA and Scotland, PA.
Start on Cedar Avenue
Continue on Cedar Avenue
Turn left onto River Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I 81
Continue on I 81
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 997
Turn left onto Scotland Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 165.8-mile drive, starting your journey in the morning will give you ample time to reach Scotland, PA, well before evening. With a total duration of just over 3 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but consider a brief pause around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially since the longest stretch is on the American Legion Memorial Highway, and plan your refueling accordingly. Given the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route, pay close attention to your navigation to avoid missing turns, which could add unexpected time to your trip.
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.
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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.9 miles or 1h 38m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scotland, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 165.8 miles and 3h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 82.9 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 162.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 165.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto River Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Scotland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto PA 997 / Black Gap Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$27.49 one way
$54.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $30.11 | $60.21 |
| premium | $4.93 | $32.15 | $64.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.61 | $73.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.7 | 0 | $17.41 | $7.96 |
| Efficient EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.51 | $6.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.3 | 0 | $23.21 | $10.61 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Scotland on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
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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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is described as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you won't be spending much time on high-speed interstates, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The bulk of your travel, 162.9 miles, will be along the American Legion Memorial Highway, which suggests a long stretch on a primarily non-highway road. Expect to navigate a variety of road types with frequent changes in direction rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of highway driving. The journey will feel more like traversing through communities and local landscapes.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from City of Scranton, PA to Scotland, PA is easy. At 3h 18m 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.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 165.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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