Origin
Derry, PA
Morning in Derry on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Derry, 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
1h 35m
Distance
73 mi
118 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Derry, PA
Israyosoy S.
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 73-mile drive from Derry, PA to Scranton, PA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 35 minutes. Given its short duration and minimal stops suggested, it's ideal as a single-day excursion rather than requiring an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical choice for a regional journey within Pennsylvania. You'll primarily be traveling on I-81 and the Keystone Shortway, offering a mixed driving experience. This route connects two locations within the Northeast region, keeping your travel contained within familiar territory.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.5 miles from Derry, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Keystone Shortway | 27.4 mi | 30m |
| Buckhorn Road | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| Washingtonville Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Danville Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Greenleaf Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 32.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derry, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Crawford Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Crawford Road
2
Turn left onto Greenleaf Road
0.2 mi
·
59 sec
·
Greenleaf Road
3
Turn left onto PA 254
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Washingtonville Road
4
Turn right onto PA 44; PA 642
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Danville Road
5
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 44
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Buckhorn Road
6
Turn right onto PA 42
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Mall Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
325 ft
·
7 sec
8
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
this road
9
Merge onto I 80
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
11
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
13
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of just 1 hour and 35 minutes, this 73-mile trip offers great flexibility. You could comfortably depart in the morning and arrive by midday, or even start in the afternoon. The $12 fuel cost is minimal, so plan to fill up before you leave Derry to ensure a smooth journey with no unexpected stops. Keep an eye on your mileage as you approach Scranton, as the route mixes highway with other road types; the longest stretch on I-81 is over 30 miles, so be mindful of any potential changes in speed limits or road conditions after that segment.
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 Derry, PA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.4 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.5 miles or 48m 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 20m
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 Derry, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Derry, PA
This is one driving day of about 73 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Derry, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 32.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from Derry, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 72.8 — 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
|
Greenleaf Road
Turn left onto Greenleaf Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road
Turn right onto PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road
Navigation decision point
4
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
PA 44 / Buckhorn Road
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 44 / Buckhorn Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
38.6 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m 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/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 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.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
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
1 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
1h 35m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 73-mile route, with 44% of it being highway travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.4 miles on I-81, providing a solid period of consistent speed. While much of the journey involves highway driving, the inclusion of roads like Buckhorn Road suggests there will be transitions to more local or varied road types. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of the interstate and potentially more winding or community-oriented sections as you progress towards Scranton.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.4 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Greenleaf Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Greenleaf Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (PA 44 / Buckhorn Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 73 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.4 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 0.2 miles (Greenleaf Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (PA 44; PA 642 / Danville Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (PA 44 / Buckhorn Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
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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