Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 27m
Distance
234.3 mi
377 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Indiana, PA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Indiana, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is 234.3 miles and takes about 4h 27m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a turn-heavy local drive that’s best suited for a single day. With a recommended one-day duration, this route offers a straightforward journey between 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
117.2 miles from Indiana, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 139.7 mi | 2h 31m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| PA 286 | 27.7 mi | 32m |
| Mahaffey Grampian Highway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Curwensville Grampian Road | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Clearfield Shawville Highway | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Burnside McGee Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Curwensville Grampian Highway | 2.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
Start on Church Street
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Turn right onto PA 286; PA 954
Take the exit onto PA 286
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219; PA 36
Continue on US 219; PA 36
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on PA 879
Continue on PA 879
Continue on PA 879
Continue on PA 879
Turn right onto PA 879
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn left onto River Street
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 27m estimated duration, leaving in the morning should comfortably get you to Scranton with daylight to spare. While only one stop is officially noted, plan for additional short breaks as needed, especially during the more turn-heavy sections. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $39 estimated cost suggests a moderate consumption rate, and fuel stops might be less frequent on local roads compared to major interstates. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage when transitioning from the Keystone Shortway onto I 81, as this is a key point where the road character changes.
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.
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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.2 miles or 2h 13m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Indiana, 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 Indiana, PA
This is one driving day of about 234.3 miles and 4h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 117.2 miles from Indiana, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 234.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto PA 286; PA 954 / Philadelphia Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto PA 286 toward PA 286 East: Clymer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$38.84 one way
$77.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $42.54 | $85.09 |
| premium | $4.93 | $45.44 | $90.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.73 | $103.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.3 | 0 | $24.60 | $11.25 |
| Efficient EV | 58.6 | 0 | $20.50 | $9.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.7 | 1 | $32.80 | $15.00 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
71°F
Clearfield, PA
117 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive offers a turn-heavy local feel, with only 26% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including the Keystone Shortway and I 81, with PA 286 also part of the path. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 139.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a good period of consistent driving before more frequent turns. Be prepared for a varied driving experience that requires attention to navigation as you transition between different types of roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 7th Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 27m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (PA 286; PA 954 / Philadelphia Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (PA 286): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Indiana is a city in Pittsburgh Region.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 234.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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