Origin
Clarion, PA
Afternoon in Clarion on Sunday
Local time
2:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clarion, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
231.7 mi
373 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarion, PA
K6
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 231.7-mile journey from Clarion to Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a manageable one-day drive, estimated to take around 4 hours and 20 minutes. You'll primarily be navigating the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a portion on Route 322. With a fuel cost estimate of $38, this route is budget-friendly for a single day of travel. The drive offers a blend of highway and local road experiences, making it a straightforward trip within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. It’s well-suited for a single day, so you can focus on enjoying the drive 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
115.8 miles from Clarion, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 189 mi | 3h 24m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Route 322 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Twenty-Eighth Division Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 5th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 189 mi, about 3h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarion, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on North 5th Avenue
63 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 5th Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 322
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on US 322
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
4
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on US 322
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Route 322
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
7
Merge onto I 80
189 mi
·
3 hr 24 min
·
Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
9
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
11
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 20-minute duration, starting your drive in Clarion earlier in the day is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop, you can be strategic about when and where you choose to break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer 189-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. Since this is a comfortable one-day trip, you have the advantage of being able to adjust your schedule on the fly, but being aware of the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile will help you anticipate changes in road conditions as you near Scranton.
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 115.8 miles from Clarion, PA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189 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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.8 miles or 2h 8m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarion, 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 Clarion, PA
This is one driving day of about 231.7 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Clarion, 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 189 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.8 miles from Clarion, 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 189 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 231.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 322 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 322 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
8.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 80 / Keystone Shortway
Merge onto I 80 / Keystone Shortway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
197.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
4
230.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
231.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.41 one way
$76.83 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $42.07 | $84.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $44.94 | $89.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.16 | $102.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.33 | $11.12 |
| Efficient EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.27 | $9.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.7 | 1 | $32.44 | $14.83 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
2:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
4h 20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with only 16% of the route being highway. While there's a significant uninterrupted stretch of 189 miles on the Keystone Shortway, the overall character leans towards more frequent turns and varied road conditions as you progress. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; instead, prepare for a more engaging driving experience that requires your attention. The transition from the Keystone Shortway to I-81 and Route 322 will likely involve changes in speed limits and road types, keeping the drive dynamic.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 early in the drive near US 322 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 20m 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: near the start (US 322 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 197.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Clarion, PA
Full guide →Clarion is in Pennsylvania.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 231.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 189 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.
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: near the start (US 322 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 197.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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