Origin
Jim Thorpe, PA
Late night in Jim Thorpe on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jim Thorpe, PA to Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jim Thorpe, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Jim Thorpe and Scranton, this 48.3-mile trip is a straightforward journey through Pennsylvania’s Northeast region. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 5 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, the route is both efficient and budget-friendly for a quick getaway. You will primarily utilize the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81 to navigate between these two points. Since the entire drive stays within the same region, you won't need to worry about major climate shifts or significant terrain changes as you transition between the two towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 27 mi | 31m |
| North Street | 9.8 mi | 18m |
| I 81 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Biden Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Adams Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 27 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jim Thorpe, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on West 6th Street
135 ft
·
11 sec
·
West 6th Street
2
Turn left onto PA 903
9.8 mi
·
18 min
·
North Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward PATP North, I 476 North: Scranton
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 476; PATP
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
7
Merge onto PA 315
523 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chestnut Street
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
9
Merge onto I 81
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 81
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
11
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
14
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
15
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Jim Thorpe, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 47.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp toward PATP North, I 476 North: Scranton
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward PATP North, I 476 North: Scranton
5
37.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
5
37.8 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 315 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
5
38 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
7
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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
$8.01 one way
$16.02 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.77 | $17.54 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.37 | $18.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.51
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(27 mi)
$3.51
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$4
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 to 8 mph
28% chance
Live forecast
67°F
Hudson, PA
24 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 5m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 73% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which features the route's longest uninterrupted stretch of 27 miles. The transition from the Turnpike to I-81 creates a consistent, fast-paced experience for most of the hour-long commute. While the journey begins with local navigation via North Street to reach the highway, the majority of your time is spent on high-speed roads. Expect a functional, direct drive that favors speed and efficiency over winding, technical backroads.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and North Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 9.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Jim Thorpe, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp North along the way.
Patp North
9.8 mi in
|
~18m
About the Cities
Starting in Jim Thorpe, PA
Full guide →Jim Thorpe is a borough in the Coal Region, near Lehighton, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Arriving in Scranton, PA
Full guide →Scranton is a city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is near Wilkes-Barre, and is the seventh most populous city in the state. Today, it is perhaps best known as the setting of the hit TV show "The Office" and the birthplace of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.51 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Scranton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scranton, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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