Huston, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 275 miles and takes about 5h 38m via Keystone Shortway and I-99/I-81, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region from start to finish. It's a straightforward, single-day journey that offers a mixed driving experience, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. You'll find the route is manageable in terms of time and cost, ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B 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
137.5 miles from Huston, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m 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
Kingwood Road
13.4 mi
23m
William Penn Highway
10.2 mi
11m
Portage Street
9.5 mi
13m
New Centerville Road
7.2 mi
12m
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
~1,120 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,611
Quietest
2 AM
~194 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
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 Huston, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Fireweed Road
319 ft·14 sec·Fireweed Road
2
Turn right onto Draketown Road
1.3 mi·5 min·Draketown Road
3
Continue on Latrobe Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Latrobe Avenue
4
Turn left onto Logan Place
0.1 mi·21 sec·Logan Place
5
Continue on PA 281
2.1 mi·3 min·Park Street
6
Continue on PA 281
13 mi·23 min·Kingwood Road
7
Continue on PA 281
0.1 mi·15 sec·New Centerville Road
8
Continue on PA 281
7.1 mi·12 min·New Centerville Road
9
Continue on PA 281
0.5 mi·58 sec·Tayman Avenue
10
Continue on PA 31; PA 281
0.7 mi·1 min·West Patriot Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto PA 31; PA 281
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Pleasant Avenue
12
Turn right onto PA 281
1.9 mi·2 min·Stoystown Road
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward US 219 North: Johnstown
14
Merge onto US 219
31 mi·34 min·Flight 93 Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
16
Turn right onto Railroad Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
17
Continue on PA 53
9.5 mi·13 min·Portage Street
18
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi·14 sec·Cleveland Street
19
Turn right onto PA 53
510 ft·9 sec·Main Street
20
Turn slight left onto PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·Evergreen Street
21
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
22
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 East: AltoonaUse the right lane.
23
Merge onto US 22
10 mi·11 min·William Penn Highway
24
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
26
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
27
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.
28
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
29
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
30
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
31
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
32
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
34
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
35
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5h 38m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. With only one stop recommended, you can plan your break strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 99.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time slightly, but a prompt start will ensure a relaxed arrival in Scranton.
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 137.5 miles from Huston, PA, or about 3h 2m 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 61 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.5 miles or 3h 2m 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 Huston, 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 Huston, PA
This is one driving day of about 275 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Huston, 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 82.9 and 274.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
82.9 mi into trip|~2h 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
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 46m 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
128.7 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
141 mi into trip|~3h 6m 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
274.8 mi into trip|~5h 38m 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
$48.03 one way
$96.06 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$52.59
$105.17
premium
$5.20
$56.26
$112.51
diesel
$6.28
$67.95
$135.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.5
1
$28.88
$13.20
Efficient EV
68.8
0
$24.06
$11.00
EV Truck/SUV
110
1
$38.50
$17.60
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Huston, PA
Morning
in Huston on Saturday
Local time
6:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Saturday
Local time
6:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
N 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
5h 38m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 37.9
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed drive, with about 33% on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Keystone Shortway, I-99, and I-81, offering a blend of faster travel and potentially more varied road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you can expect is 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, giving you a good segment of consistent driving. As you progress, the road character will shift, moving from one primary highway system to another, so be prepared for these transitions.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 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 82.9 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 22 significant decision points across 275 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 82.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.7 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.7 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,107 ft560 ft
Total Climb
2,078 ft
Total Descent
2,666 ft
Highest Point
2,107 ft
~19.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,546 ft
Notable High Points
1,413 ft at ~176.8 miles+596 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 Huston, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
82.4 mi in|~1h 59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 275 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m 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 82.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.7 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.7 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Flight 93 National Memorial and Fort Necessity National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 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.
