Scranton, PA to Union City, PA is 295.9 miles and takes about 5h 56m via the Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region from start to finish. The route primarily uses major highways but transitions to surface roads, making it a good option for a single-day drive. You'll want to budget for the ~5 hours and 56 minutes of driving time, plus any brief stops along the way. Consider starting early to make the most of your driving day.
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
148 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
188.5 mi
3h 23m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
William Flinn Highway
12.4 mi
16m
Route 208
12.3 mi
18m
PA 36
9.5 mi
14m
Titusville Road
5.7 mi
7m
North 1st Avenue
4.6 mi
6m
Colonel Drake Highway
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 188.5 mi, about 3h 23m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,513
Quietest
2 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Union City, 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
188 mi·3 hr 23 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward US 322: Strattanville
9
Turn right onto US 322
4.0 mi·5 min·Route 322
10
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
11
Continue on US 322
1.6 mi·2 min·Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
12
Continue on US 322
1.7 mi·2 min·East Main Street
13
Turn slight right onto US 322
4.6 mi·6 min·North 1st Avenue
14
Turn right onto PA 208
0.4 mi·35 sec·North School Street
15
Continue on PA 208
7.2 mi·10 min·Route 208
16
Continue on PA 208
5.0 mi·7 min·Route 208
17
Continue on PA 36
9.5 mi·14 min·PA 36
18
Turn left onto US 62; PA 36
0.3 mi·20 sec·Route 36 and 62
19
Turn right onto PA 36
4.5 mi·6 min·Colonel Drake Highway
20
Continue on PA 36
4.4 mi·6 min·Tionesta Road
21
Continue on PA 36
1.3 mi·1 min·East State Street
22
Continue on PA 27
2.6 mi·3 min·Titusville Road
23
Continue on PA 27
1.1 mi·2 min·Plank Road
24
Continue on PA 27
1.5 mi·4 min·East Central Avenue
25
Turn slight right onto PA 8
0.9 mi·2 min·West Spring Street
Use the right lane.
26
Continue on PA 8
3.0 mi·4 min·Hydetown Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on PA 8
4.6 mi·6 min·William Flinn Highway
28
Continue on PA 8
1.6 mi·2 min·Erie Street
29
Continue on PA 8
7.8 mi·10 min·William Flinn Highway
30
Continue on PA 8
3.1 mi·4 min·Titusville Road
31
Continue on US 6; PA 8
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Arrive at destination
US 6; PA 8
Trip Plan
For this roughly 6-hour drive, leaving Scranton in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Union City with ample time before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but ensure you refuel before you hit the longest stretch of 188.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. The $50 fuel budget is a good estimate, but always check current prices. Given that this is a single-day route, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, allowing for a more spontaneous departure.
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 148 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.5 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 65 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, 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 295.9 miles and 5h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 188.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 223.1 — 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
3
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
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
4
223.1 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 322: Strattanville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 322: Strattanville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.07 one way
$104.15 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$56.94
$113.89
premium
$5.23
$60.88
$121.76
diesel
$6.18
$71.98
$143.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.8
1
$31.07
$14.20
Efficient EV
74
0
$25.89
$11.84
EV Truck/SUV
118.4
1
$41.43
$18.94
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Saturday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Cloudy
N 13 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Union City, PA
Afternoon
in Union City on Saturday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
N 6 to 13 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
5h 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a significant portion on highways, with 9% of the drive on major roads like the Keystone Shortway. You'll encounter a long stretch of 188.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering continuous cruising. After this, the route shifts to mostly surface roads, which means more local traffic and potentially more frequent changes in speed limits. Expect a change in driving experience as you move from open highway to more built-up areas with more frequent intersections.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 56m drive. You will face about 10 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.
The longest stretch is about 188.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Union City, PA before the return drive.
