Spanning 221.9 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip from Lake City to Scranton typically takes about 4 hours and 24 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trek that works perfectly as a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $37 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the drive. With only one recommended stop, the route is efficient for travelers looking to get from the northwest corner of the state to the northeast with minimal fuss.
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
110.9 miles from Lake City, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
162.6 mi
2h 55m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Cherry Street
7.5 mi
9m
Game School Road
7.4 mi
17m
Lake City Road
4.2 mi
6m
Richardsville Road
2 mi
3m
State Route 28 North
1.8 mi
3m
Main Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 162.6 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Swedetown Road
68 ft·7 sec·Swedetown Road
2
Turn left onto PA 949
4.2 mi·6 min·Lake City Road
3
Continue on Richardsville Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Richardsville Road
4
Turn left onto Game School Road
7.4 mi·17 min·Game School Road
5
Turn left onto PA 28
1.8 mi·3 min·State Route 28 North
6
Continue on PA 28
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
7
Turn right onto US 219
0.1 mi·15 sec·Clark Street
8
Continue on US 219
7.5 mi·9 min·Cherry Street
9
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
163 mi·2 hr 55 min·Keystone Shortway
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
12
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
14
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
17
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
18
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 24-minute travel time, plan your departure early to avoid any unexpected congestion on the local segments. Since you only need one stop for the entire 221.9-mile trip, choose a location along the Keystone Shortway to handle your refueling and stretching needs before you hit the more technical, turn-heavy sections of the route. Keeping your fuel budget around $37 in mind, consider filling up before you leave Lake City to ensure you are well-prepared for the long 162.6-mile stretch ahead. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so monitor your progress once you merge onto I-81 to determine if you need an additional break before reaching your final destination 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 110.9 miles from Lake City, PA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.6 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 49 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.9 miles or 2h 17m 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 33m
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 Lake City, 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 Lake City, PA
This is one driving day of about 221.9 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Lake City, 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 162.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 187 and 221.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
187 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
4
220.1 mi into trip|~4h 20m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
221.2 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
221.6 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
221.8 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.79 one way
$73.58 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$40.29
$80.58
premium
$4.93
$43.03
$86.07
diesel
$5.61
$48.99
$97.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.6
0
$23.30
$10.65
Efficient EV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
EV Truck/SUV
88.8
1
$31.07
$14.20
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lake City, PA
Morning
in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
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
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
4h 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by a turn-heavy local feel, as highways only account for 15% of your total mileage. While you will spend a significant 162.6-mile stretch cruising along the Keystone Shortway, the remainder of the journey requires more active navigation. You will eventually transition onto I-81 and navigate through Cherry Street as you approach Scranton. This combination creates a driving experience that shifts from the steady pace of a major corridor to the more technical demands of local roads. It is a varied drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate grind.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 187 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 187 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 220.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 221.2 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 162.6 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 187 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 220.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 221.2 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
