Fox Chapel, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is 287.7 miles and takes about 5h 42m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traveling from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a mixed highway and surface road experience, suitable for a single-day drive. It's a straightforward trip if you're looking for a direct route between these two points in the state.
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
143.9 miles from Fox Chapel, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
180.6 mi
3h 15m
PA 28
36.7 mi
54m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Allegheny Valley Expressway
24.9 mi
30m
US 422
5.1 mi
6m
Freeport Road
2.3 mi
4m
Field Club Road
1 mi
3m
Powers Run Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 180.6 mi, about 3h 15m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,102 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,486
Quietest
2 AM
~187 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 Fox Chapel, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Field Club Road
1.0 mi·3 min·Field Club Road
2
Turn right onto Powers Run Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Powers Run Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Freeport Road
2.3 mi·4 min·Freeport Road
4
Turn left onto PA 910
0.2 mi·21 sec·Indianola Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward PA 28 North: New Kensington, Tarentum
6
Merge onto PA 28
25 mi·30 min·Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·52 sec
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
8
Merge onto US 422; PA 28
5.1 mi·6 min·US 422; PA 28
9
Continue on PA 28; PA 66
37 mi·54 min·PA 28; PA 66
10
Take the ramp onto PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi·46 sec·PA 28 Truck
11
Merge onto I 80; PA 28 Truck
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·Keystone Shortway
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
13
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
15
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
This 5-hour, 42-minute drive is easily manageable in one day, so you can afford to leave mid-morning to avoid early rush hour. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 180.6-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent there. Budget around $47 for fuel, and consider filling up before heading onto the longer highway section to ensure you have ample options.
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 143.9 miles from Fox Chapel, PA, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 63 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.9 miles or 3h 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 39m
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 Fox Chapel, 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 Fox Chapel, PA
This is one driving day of about 287.7 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Fox Chapel, 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 180.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 287.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|Freeport Road
At end of road, turn left onto Freeport Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.9 mi into trip|~10m in|PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge onto PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
29.9 mi into trip|~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, In...
5
253.3 mi into trip|~4h 58m 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
287.5 mi into trip|~5h 42m 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
$45.87 one way
$91.75 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$50.77
$101.53
premium
$4.81
$54.46
$108.92
diesel
$4.80
$54.32
$108.65
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: 100.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.3
1
$30.21
$13.81
Efficient EV
71.9
0
$25.17
$11.51
EV Truck/SUV
115.1
1
$40.28
$18.41
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 18, 2026
Origin
Fox Chapel, PA
Late night
in Fox Chapel on Monday
Local time
1:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
SE 5 mph52% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
Late night
in City of Scranton on Monday
Local time
1:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Areas Of Smoke
E 0 to 3 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
6 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
5h 42m 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?
About 35% of this 287.7-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 180.6 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering extended highway cruising. After that, the route transitions to surface roads, meaning you'll experience more varied driving conditions with potentially more local traffic and intersections. Be prepared for a shift from faster highway speeds to a more measured pace on PA 28 and I 81.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near Freeport Road.
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 287.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.1 miles (Freeport Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,956 ft517 ft
Total Climb
2,104 ft
Total Descent
2,350 ft
Highest Point
1,956 ft
~102.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,438 ft
Notable High Points
1,550 ft at ~185 miles+567 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fox Chapel, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 42m. Total distance: 287.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.6 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 2.1 miles (Freeport Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 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.
