This 73-mile drive from Cressona, PA to Scranton, PA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-81, this highway-focused route is ideal for a single-day excursion, with a modest fuel cost estimated at $12. Given its short duration and straightforward nature, no overnight stops are necessary. The journey keeps you within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a consistent driving experience without significant transitions between different geographical areas. It's a practical choice when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.5 miles from Cressona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
59.6 mi
1h 10m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Route 61 South
2.9 mi
3m
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
1 mi
1m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Pottsville Street
0.7 mi
2m
South Sillyman Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cressona, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Zerbe Street
74 ft·3 sec·Zerbe Street
2
Continue on Front Street
0.2 mi·58 sec·Front Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto PA 183
224 ft·5 sec·Chestnut Street
4
Continue on PA 183
0.3 mi·30 sec·South Sillyman Street
5
Turn right onto PA 183
0.7 mi·2 min·Pottsville Street
6
Turn left onto PA 61
2.9 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
7
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
8
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi·2 min·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
9
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
10
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
12
Merge onto I 81
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
14
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 30-minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Cressona, PA, in the morning is a good way to beat any potential mid-day traffic, especially as you approach Scranton. With no mandatory stops recommended for this 73-mile trip, you can easily make spontaneous breaks if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest 59.6-mile stretch on I-81, to ensure a smooth journey without unexpected fuel stops. The low fuel cost of around $12 makes this a budget-friendly trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.5 miles from Cressona, PA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.6 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.5 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
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 Cressona, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cressona, PA
This is one driving day of about 73 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Cressona, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 59.6 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 0.3 and 72.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 183 / Chestnut Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 183 / Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 183 / Pottsville Street
Turn right onto PA 183 / Pottsville Street
Navigation decision point
4
11.8 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
4
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
$12.10 one way
$24.20 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.25
$26.51
premium
$4.93
$14.16
$28.31
diesel
$5.61
$16.12
$32.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.39
$2.92
EV Truck/SUV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Cressona, PA
Morning
in Cressona on Sunday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM 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
41 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
1h 30m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 86% highway experience on this route, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 59.6 miles on I-81, providing a good period of consistent cruising. While primarily interstate, the initial and final segments involve local roads like Route 61 South and Joseph H. Long Boulevard, offering a brief change of pace before merging onto the faster highway. This drive is characterized by its efficiency rather than winding scenic detours.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.6 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Joseph H. Long Boulevard. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near PA 183 / Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cressona, PA to City of Scranton, PA is easy. At 1h 30m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (PA 183 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (PA 183 / Pottsville Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 73 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 59.6 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (PA 183 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (PA 183 / Pottsville Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
