Hemlock, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 255.7 miles and takes about 5h 30m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Given the relatively short duration and predominantly surface road profile, it's a manageable one-day drive. You'll encounter a mix of road types, making it a practical option for those looking for a straightforward trip without extensive highway time.
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
127.8 miles from Hemlock, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
148.6 mi
2h 40m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Hoovertown Road
5 mi
8m
Penfield Road
3.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 148.6 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,088 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,542
Quietest
2 AM
~193 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Hemlock, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
99 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Hemlock Road
3.5 mi·13 min·Hemlock Road
3
Continue on Hemlock Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Hemlock Street
4
Turn left onto US 6 Business
0.2 mi·33 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue East
Use the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
8
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
9
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
10
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
11
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
12
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
13
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
14
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
15
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
17
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
18
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
19
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
20
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
21
Merge onto I 80
149 mi·2 hr 40 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
Given the 5-hour and 30-minute estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is advisable to allow ample time for the drive and any unforeseen delays. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to break up the drive as needed, perhaps after the initial 148.6-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move onto the surface roads where gas stations might be less frequent than on the interstate. The $43 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer.
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 127.8 miles from Hemlock, PA, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.6 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 56 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.8 miles or 3h 5m 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 34m
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 Hemlock, 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 Hemlock, PA
This is one driving day of about 255.7 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Hemlock, 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 148.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 255.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.8 mi into trip|~15m in|US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East
Turn left onto US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4 mi into trip|~15m in|US 6 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 6 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
14.2 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward PA 666 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 666 West
5
221.2 mi into trip|~4h 46m 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
255.5 mi into trip|~5h 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
$44.66 one way
$89.31 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$48.90
$97.79
premium
$5.20
$52.31
$104.62
diesel
$6.28
$63.18
$126.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.85
$12.27
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.23
EV Truck/SUV
102.3
1
$35.80
$16.36
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Hemlock, PA
Morning
in Hemlock on Saturday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
N 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:55PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:04PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Saturday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
N 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:55PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:04PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
66°F
Clearfield, PA
128 mi in
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
5 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
5h 30m 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 mostly surface roads, with just 23% on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 148.6 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning. Expect to notice the change from more open highway cruising to surface road driving, which often means more varied speed limits and potential for more frequent stops. The majority of your time will be spent on these non-highway roads.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.6 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East.
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 255.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 3.8 miles (US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (US 6 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,217 ft649 ft
Total Climb
2,089 ft
Total Descent
2,559 ft
Highest Point
2,217 ft
~73 mi in
Elevation Range
1,568 ft
Notable High Points
2,217 ft at ~73 miles+528 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 255.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.6 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.
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 3.8 miles (US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (US 6 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 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.
