Traveling from Scranton to the Pennsylvania state line covers 184.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, it works perfectly as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $31 for fuel to complete the journey. You will navigate using a combination of the American Legion Memorial Highway, the Molly Pitcher Highway, and the George N. Wade Memorial Bridge. Since the route is manageable in under four hours, you can comfortably complete it in one day without needing to book an overnight stay.
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
92.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
180.1 mi
3h 32m
Molly Pitcher Highway
2.2 mi
3m
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
0.9 mi
1m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Pennsylvania Avenue North
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 180.1 mi, about 3h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Scranton, PA and State Line, 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
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·20 sec
Toward US 11
9
Keep slight left at fork
112 ft·10 sec
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto US 11
2.2 mi·3 min·Molly Pitcher Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 11
0.2 mi·17 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue North
12
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour and 40-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the journey, which helps manage the fatigue that can come with a turn-heavy route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $31 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local station prices. Because you are navigating specific segments like the George N. Wade Memorial Bridge and the Molly Pitcher Highway, double-check your navigation settings before you pull out of Scranton. Staying alert during those technical local sections is the best way to ensure a smooth arrival at the state line.
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 92.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.1 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.4 miles or 1h 50m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near State Line, 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 184.8 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 180.1 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 182.5 — 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.
7
182.4 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|US 11 / Molly Pitcher Highway
Turn left onto US 11 / Molly Pitcher Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.64 one way
$61.28 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$33.56
$67.11
premium
$4.93
$35.84
$71.68
diesel
$5.61
$40.80
$81.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.40
$8.87
Efficient EV
46.2
0
$16.17
$7.39
EV Truck/SUV
73.9
0
$25.87
$11.83
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 12, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 1 to 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 4:55AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
State Line, PA
Late night
in State Line on Sunday
Local time
3:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 7 to 17 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 4:55AM EDT by NWS State College PA
70°F
Harrisburg, PA
92 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
7 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
3h 40m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 140.2
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 95.6
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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route requires you to navigate varied road conditions throughout the 184.8-mile journey. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 180.1 miles while traveling along the American Legion Memorial Highway. The character of the drive shifts as you transition between local segments and major connectors, creating a dynamic experience that keeps you engaged. Prepare for a mix of technical turns that make the drive feel more hands-on than a standard highway cruise.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.1 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 40m drive. You will face about 6 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 3h 40m. Total distance: 184.8 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 180.1 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at State Line, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
