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Trip from Kimmel, 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

5h 8m

Distance

257.9 mi

415 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 55m ★
6 AM
5h 9m
8 AM
5h 36m
10 AM
5h 18m
12 PM
5h 15m
3 PM
5h 19m
5 PM
5h 34m
8 PM
5h 1m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Kimmel, PA, PA

Kimmel, PA

cottonbro studio

Trip Overview

This 257.9-mile drive from Kimmel, PA, to Scranton, PA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 8 minutes to complete. You'll primarily travel on the Keystone Shortway, I-99, and I-81, with about 35% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $43, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick excursion within Pennsylvania. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience on the road, and with only one recommended stop, it's a straightforward path. This trip stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travels.

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

128.9 miles from Kimmel, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m 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
William Penn Highway 10.2 mi 11m
Portage Street 9.5 mi 13m
New Centerville Road 5.3 mi 9m
Stoystown Road 1.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on SR 3029

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Copper Kettle Highway
2

Turn left onto Cross Road

1.5 mi · 5 min · Cross Road
3

Turn left onto PA 281

5.3 mi · 9 min · New Centerville Road
4

Continue on PA 281

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Tayman Avenue
5

Continue on PA 31; PA 281

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Patriot Street
6

At end of road, turn left onto PA 31; PA 281

0.3 mi · 32 sec · South Pleasant Avenue
7

Turn right onto PA 281

1.9 mi · 2 min · Stoystown Road
8

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward US 219 North: Johnstown
9

Merge onto US 219

31 mi · 34 min · Flight 93 Memorial Highway
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
11

Turn right onto Railroad Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Railroad Street
12

Continue on PA 53

9.5 mi · 13 min · Portage Street
13

Turn left onto PA 53

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Cleveland Street
14

Turn right onto PA 53

510 ft · 9 sec · Main Street
15

Turn slight left onto PA 53

0.9 mi · 1 min · Evergreen Street
16

Continue on PA 53

0.9 mi · 1 min · West 2nd Street
17

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 22 East: Altoona Use the right lane.
18

Merge onto US 22

10 mi · 11 min · William Penn Highway
19

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 45 sec · this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
20

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
21

Merge onto I 99; US 220

41 mi · 44 min · I 99; US 220
22

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.
23

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
24

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport Use the left lane.
25

Merge onto I 80; US 220

99 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Keystone Shortway
26

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
27

Merge onto I 81

32 mi · 39 min · I 81
28

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward PA 307
29

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street
30

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

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

Continue on Adams Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Adams Avenue
32

Turn left onto Biden Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Biden Street
33

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

135 ft · 4 sec · Wyoming Avenue
34

Arrive at destination

Wyoming Avenue

Trip Plan

With a total duration of just over 5 hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan for one stop to break up the 257.9 miles and manage your fuel; the estimated cost is $43. Be aware of the longest uninterrupted stretch of 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, and consider this for your refueling plans. Leaving earlier in the day can help you avoid potential traffic as you approach Scranton. Given the route's manageable length, you have the advantage of not needing to rush, allowing for a more relaxed travel experience.

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 128.9 miles from Kimmel, PA, or about 2h 41m 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 57 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 128.9 miles or 2h 41m 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 11m

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 Kimmel, 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 Kimmel, PA

This is one driving day of about 257.9 miles and 5h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Kimmel, 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.

borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

State College, PA

129 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

Oil City, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bellefonte, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 128.9 miles from Kimmel, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 257.9

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: 12–8 am

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 257.9

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 257.9

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 239.5

Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 257.9

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

InCharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 239.5

Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18333994638

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 221.1

Drums, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 202.6

Nescopeck, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 24

5 decision points cluster between mile 65.3 and 257.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
65.3 mi into trip | ~1h 29m 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
107.2 mi into trip | ~2h 15m 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
111.1 mi into trip | ~2h 20m 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
123.5 mi into trip | ~2h 35m 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
257.3 mi into trip | ~5h 7m 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

$42.76 one way

$85.51 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $46.83 $93.66
premium $4.93 $50.02 $100.03
diesel $5.61 $56.94 $113.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.4 0 $27.08 $12.38
Efficient EV 64.5 0 $22.57 $10.32
EV Truck/SUV 103.2 1 $36.11 $16.51

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Kimmel, PA

Morning in Kimmel on Sunday

Local time

7:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 10 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Destination

Scranton, PA

Morning in Scranton on Sunday

Local time

7:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 9 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

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

6 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 8m 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

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...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 44.5
Park Closure: North Abutment Overlook Closure
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial

National Memorial

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 ~19 min detour Free near mile 17.8
View on nps.gov
Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed drive on this 257.9-mile journey, with a significant portion on highways. While 35% of the route involves highway driving, you'll also encounter other road types. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a good opportunity to settle in. The drive progresses through varied terrain, indicating that the road's personality will shift as you cover the 5 hours and 8 minutes of travel time. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind but rather a blend of faster road sections and potentially more local driving.

35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 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 65.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 24 significant decision points across 257.9 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 65.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.2 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.1 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 Kimmel, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.

Bedford

64.8 mi in | ~1h 28m

About the Cities

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 5h 8m. Total distance: 257.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 8m 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.

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 65.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.2 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.1 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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