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Trip from Johnstown, 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

4h 27m

Distance

227.9 mi

367 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 14m ★
6 AM
4h 28m
8 AM
4h 54m
10 AM
4h 37m
12 PM
4h 34m
3 PM
4h 38m
5 PM
4h 53m
8 PM
4h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States

Johnstown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Johnstown, PA to Scranton, PA covers 227.9 miles and takes about 4h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 99, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.78 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

113.9 miles from Johnstown, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m 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
William Penn Highway 16.8 mi 19m
William Penn Avenue 10.3 mi 16m
Admiral Peary Highway 7.4 mi 11m
River Street 1 mi 1m
Cedar Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Johnstown, PA and Scranton, PA.

1

Start on Walnut Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Walnut Street
2

Turn right onto William Penn Avenue

10 mi · 16 min · William Penn Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward US 22 East: Ebensburg
4

Merge onto US 22

7.4 mi · 11 min · Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Continue on US 22

17 mi · 19 min · William Penn Highway
6

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 45 sec · this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
8

Merge onto I 99; US 220

41 mi · 44 min · I 99; US 220
9

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.
10

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
11

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport Use the left lane.
12

Merge onto I 80; US 220

99 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Keystone Shortway
13

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
14

Merge onto I 81

32 mi · 39 min · I 81
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward PA 307
16

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street
17

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Continue on Adams Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Adams Avenue
19

Turn left onto Biden Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Biden Street
20

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

135 ft · 4 sec · Wyoming Avenue
21

Arrive at destination

Wyoming Avenue

Trip Plan

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 113.9 miles from Johnstown, PA, or about 2h 16m 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 50 miles or 1h 5m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 113.9 miles or 2h 16m 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Johnstown, 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 Johnstown, PA

This is one driving day of about 227.9 miles and 4h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Johnstown, 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.

county seat of Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bellefonte, PA

114 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.

Popular next leg

Bellefonte, PA to Scranton, PA

138.8 mi · 2h 42m

Pacing Suggestions

Altoona, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bellefonte, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 113.9 miles from Johnstown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.3 miles.

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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 35.3 and 227.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
35.3 mi into trip | ~48m 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
77.2 mi into trip | ~1h 34m 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
81.1 mi into trip | ~1h 39m 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
93.5 mi into trip | ~1h 54m 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
227.3 mi into trip | ~4h 26m 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

$37.78 one way

$75.57 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $41.38 $82.76
premium $4.93 $44.20 $88.40
diesel $5.61 $50.32 $100.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 68.4 0 $23.93 $10.94
Efficient EV 57 0 $19.94 $9.12
EV Truck/SUV 91.2 1 $31.91 $14.59

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 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 Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Johnstown, PA

Evening in Johnstown on Sunday

Local time

6:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scranton, PA

Evening in Scranton on Sunday

Local time

6:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

27 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

4h 27m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

227.9 mi in 4h 27m — 39% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Keystone Shortway.

39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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?

8/10

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 35.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 227.9 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 35.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Johnstown, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.

Bedford

34.8 mi in | ~48m

About the Cities

Starting in Johnstown, PA

Full guide →

Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 41 miles (66 km) west-southwest of Altoona, and 70 miles (110 km) east of Pittsburgh. The Conemaugh River forms at Johnstown from its tributaries, the Stonycreek River and the Little Conemaugh.

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 4h 27m. Total distance: 227.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 35.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore More

Return Trip

Scranton, PA to Johnstown, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

227.9 mi 4h 28m

Explore more options from Johnstown, PA or browse trips ending in Scranton, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.