Friedens, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 250 miles and takes about 4h 52m via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward, single-day excursion. It's a practical option if you need to get from one part of the state to another without extensive planning.
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
125 miles from Friedens, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Flight 93 Memorial Highway
30.5 mi
34m
William Penn Highway
10.2 mi
11m
Portage Street
9.5 mi
13m
Stoystown Road
2.9 mi
5m
Railroad Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Friedens, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on South Main Street
203 ft·14 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left
212 ft·11 sec
3
Turn right onto PA 281
2.9 mi·5 min·Stoystown Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 219 North: Johnstown
5
Merge onto US 219
31 mi·34 min·Flight 93 Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
7
Turn right onto Railroad Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
8
Continue on PA 53
9.5 mi·13 min·Portage Street
9
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi·14 sec·Cleveland Street
10
Turn right onto PA 53
510 ft·9 sec·Main Street
11
Turn slight left onto PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·Evergreen Street
12
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 East: AltoonaUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto US 22
10 mi·11 min·William Penn Highway
15
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
17
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
20
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
21
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
23
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
25
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete the trip. Since it's a single-day route, you have flexibility on when to take your one recommended stop. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading onto the longest stretch of the Keystone Shortway, which is nearly 100 miles. The estimated fuel cost is around $41, so budget accordingly.
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 125 miles from Friedens, PA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 55 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
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 Friedens, 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 Friedens, PA
This is one driving day of about 250 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Friedens, 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 99.3 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 57.9 and 249.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
6
99.7 mi into trip|~2h in|I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
103.7 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
7
116 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
249.8 mi into trip|~4h 51m 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
$39.86 one way
$79.72 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$44.11
$88.23
premium
$4.81
$47.32
$94.65
diesel
$4.80
$47.20
$94.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75
0
$26.25
$12.00
Efficient EV
62.5
0
$21.88
$10.00
EV Truck/SUV
100
1
$35.00
$16.00
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Friedens, PA
Evening
in Friedens on Monday
Local time
8:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Patchy Smoke then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 7 to 14 mph79% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Evening
in City of Scranton on Monday
Local time
8:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Areas Of Smoke
SE 5 to 12 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:13AM 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
3 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
4h 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 250-mile route features a 36% highway share. You'll experience about 99.3 miles of continuous driving on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a mixed driving experience, moving from more open highway cruising to navigating surface roads as you approach your destination.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 57.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 250 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 57.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.7 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.7 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,111 ft568 ft
Total Climb
1,658 ft
Total Descent
3,029 ft
Highest Point
2,111 ft
Elevation Range
1,542 ft
Notable High Points
1,766 ft at ~142.9 miles+739 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 Friedens, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 250 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at City of Scranton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 57.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.7 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.7 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
