Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
244.7 mi
394 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
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
Waterford, PA
Jack Pace
Scranton, PA to Waterford, PA is 244.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m via Keystone Shortway and I-99, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, crossing Pennsylvania entirely. Expect a driving experience that involves frequent turns, suggesting you'll navigate a mix of highway and local roads. Given its 1-day recommendation and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a straightforward journey without the need for an overnight stay.
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
122.3 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
| 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 |
| Menoher Boulevard | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Menoher Highway | 7.1 mi | 9m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Scranton, PA and Waterford, PA.
Start on Cedar Avenue
Continue on Cedar Avenue
Turn left onto River Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on US 22
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 53
Continue on PA 53
Continue on PA 53
Turn left onto PA 53
Turn right onto PA 53
Continue on PA 53
Turn left
Merge onto US 219
Take the exit
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto Bedford Street
Turn left onto PA 271
At end of road, turn left onto PA 271
Continue on PA 271
Arrive at destination
For this 4h 51m drive, consider departing mid-morning to allow for a relaxed start and still arrive with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing; a single break around the halfway point or after the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway should suffice. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the more local road segments where stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. Since this is a single-day trip, you can afford to be spontaneous with your timing.
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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.3 miles or 2h 18m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterford, 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 244.7 miles and 4h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 122.3 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 Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.5 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 34 and 202.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
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
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Regular Gas
$40.57 one way
$81.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $44.43 | $88.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $47.46 | $94.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.03 | $108.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.4 | 0 | $25.69 | $11.75 |
| Efficient EV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.41 | $9.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.9 | 1 | $34.26 | $15.66 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Waterford on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Memorial
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 17% of the total distance on highways. You'll experience a dynamic road profile, shifting from the Keystone Shortway to I-99 and then the American Legion Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 98.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a significant segment of more consistent travel before the route becomes more broken up. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction and speed as you transition between different types of roadways.
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 244.7 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between City of Scranton, PA and Waterford, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Portage.
Altoona
Hollidaysburg
Portage
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 244.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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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