Cochranton, PA to Scranton, PA is 277.1 miles and takes about 5h 29m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region from one end to the other. Expect a journey that involves a good mix of highway driving and more winding local roads, making it a dynamic way to cross the state. It’s a solid choice for a single-day drive, offering varied scenery without being overly demanding.
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
138.5 miles from Cochranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
189 mi
3h 24m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
US Highway 322
17.2 mi
25m
US 322
14.5 mi
20m
Main Street
6.1 mi
9m
Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
4.3 mi
6m
Route 322
4.1 mi
5m
Lakes To the Sea Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 189 mi, about 3h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cochranton, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 173
0.6 mi·1 min·Adams Street
2
Turn right onto US 322
14 mi·20 min·US 322
3
Continue on US 322
1.2 mi·2 min·Grant Street
4
Turn right onto US 322
0.3 mi·47 sec·Meadville Pike
5
Continue on US 322
0.2 mi·48 sec·13th Street
6
Turn left onto US 62; US 322; PA 8
0.8 mi·2 min·Liberty Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto US 322
0.2 mi·15 sec·8th Street
8
Continue on US 322
1.7 mi·2 min·Lakes To the Sea Highway
9
Continue on US 322
4.8 mi·7 min·US Highway 322
10
Continue on US 322
2.7 mi·4 min·Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
11
Continue on US 322
12 mi·17 min·US Highway 322
12
Continue on US 322
5.1 mi·7 min·Main Street
13
Continue on US 322
1.7 mi·2 min·West Main Street
14
Continue on US 322
1.6 mi·2 min·Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
15
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
16
Continue on US 322
4.1 mi·5 min·Route 322
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
18
Merge onto I 80
189 mi·3 hr 24 min·Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
20
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
22
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
25
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
26
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5.5-hour duration and turn-heavy nature, starting your drive in Cochranton in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on fuel, especially before heading onto the 189-mile stretch of the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent in some sections. The route’s profile suggests planning for slightly longer travel times than a pure interstate drive, so factor that into your arrival time in 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 138.5 miles from Cochranton, PA, or about 2h 52m 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 61 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.5 miles or 2h 52m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cochranton, 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 Cochranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 277.1 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Cochranton, 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.
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 16.8 and 277 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.8 mi into trip|~25m in|US 62; US 322; PA 8 / Liberty Street
Turn left onto US 62; US 322; PA 8 / Liberty Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
242.2 mi into trip|~4h 44m 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
7
276.5 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
276.9 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
277 mi into trip|~5h 29m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.94 one way
$91.88 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$50.31
$100.63
premium
$4.93
$53.74
$107.48
diesel
$5.61
$61.18
$122.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.1
1
$29.10
$13.30
Efficient EV
69.3
0
$24.25
$11.08
EV Truck/SUV
110.8
1
$38.79
$17.73
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Cochranton, PA
Late night
in Cochranton on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Clearfield, PA
139 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
16 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 29m 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 route leans towards a 'turn-heavy local drive' feel, with only 25% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time navigating state routes and local roads, which means more frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 189 miles along the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of more consistent travel before you transition to other road types. Be prepared for a drive that keeps you engaged with its changing pace and constant need for attention.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 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 around 16.8 miles in near US 62; US 322; PA 8 / Liberty 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 5h 29m 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 16.8 miles (US 62; US 322; PA 8 / Liberty Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 242.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 276.5 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Scranton is a city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is near Wilkes-Barre, and is the seventh most populous city in the state. Today, it is perhaps best known as the setting of the hit TV show "The Office" and the birthplace of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.
The longest stretch is about 189 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles (US 62; US 322; PA 8 / Liberty Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 242.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 276.5 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.
