Embark on a 306.2-mile journey from Ellwood City, PA, to the City of Scranton, PA, a drive that typically takes around 4 hours and 46 minutes. This route is best tackled in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway. With a projected fuel cost of $51, it's an economical choice for exploring Pennsylvania. Expect a turn-heavy local drive experience, offering a more intimate connection with the landscape rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. This trip stays within the Northeast region, keeping your travel focused.
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
152.9 miles from Ellwood City, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.8 mi
4h 18m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
I 79
19.9 mi
21m
Portersville Road
9.5 mi
16m
River Street
1 mi
1m
East Portersville Road
0.6 mi
1m
Fountain Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,466
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellwood City, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Keystone Way
36 ft·7 sec·Keystone Way
2
Turn left onto PA 65; PA 288; PA 351 Truck
0.4 mi·58 sec·Fountain Avenue
3
Continue on PA 488
9.5 mi·16 min·Portersville Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 19; PA 488
0.2 mi·21 sec·Perry Highway
5
Turn slight left onto PA 488
0.6 mi·1 min·East Portersville Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
7
Merge onto I 79
20 mi·21 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
9
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward 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
Given the 4-hour and 46-minute duration, starting your drive from Ellwood City in the morning is advisable to reach Scranton with daylight to spare. While this is a manageable one-day trip, plan for one stop to break up the 306.2 miles and refuel if necessary. The $51 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it’s always wise to check your fuel gauge before departing. Pay close attention to posted speed limits, as this route involves numerous local roads with varying restrictions.
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 152.9 miles from Ellwood City, PA, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.8 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 67 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.9 miles or 2h 53m 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 38m
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 Ellwood City, 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 Ellwood City, PA
This is one driving day of about 305.8 miles and 5h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Ellwood City, 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 239.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 10 and 305.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
10 mi into trip|~17m in|US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway
Navigation decision point
4
10.7 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
10.9 mi into trip|~19m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
271.3 mi into trip|~5h 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
305.6 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
$48.76 one way
$97.52 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$53.96
$107.92
premium
$4.81
$57.89
$115.77
diesel
$4.80
$57.74
$115.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.7
1
$32.11
$14.68
Efficient EV
76.5
0
$26.76
$12.23
EV Truck/SUV
122.3
1
$42.81
$19.57
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Ellwood City, PA
Afternoon
in Ellwood City on Sunday
Local time
1:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
1:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 44m 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 is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating local roads for the entire 306.2 miles. The drive progresses through a series of local streets and highways, including Fountain Avenue, Portersville Road, and Perry Highway. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the nature of a local drive suggests frequent intersections and changes in speed limits. Be prepared for a more engaged driving experience that keeps you connected to the communities along the way.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.8 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in near US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 305.8 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 10 miles (US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,588 ft639 ft
Total Climb
1,800 ft
Total Descent
1,949 ft
Highest Point
1,588 ft
~152.9 mi in
Elevation Range
949 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 44m. Total distance: 305.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.8 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 40 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 40 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 10 miles (US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at City of Scranton, PA before the return drive.
