Origin
Lehighton, PA
Morning in Lehighton on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lehighton, PA to City of 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
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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 9m
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.
Lehighton, PA
Andaru Firmansyah
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lehighton to Scranton covers a modest 53.4 miles, making this a straightforward journey that takes roughly 58 minutes to complete. Because the route is quite short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $9 on fuel for the trip, keeping costs very manageable. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you will find yourself moving through familiar local landscapes throughout the duration of the drive. This is an ideal excursion if you are looking for a quick and direct connection between these two Pennsylvania hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 38.5 mi | 43m |
| I 81 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Interchange Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Bridge Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Bankway Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South First Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 38.5 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lehighton, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on South 4th Street
87 ft
·
4 sec
·
South 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Mahoning Street
457 ft
·
14 sec
·
Mahoning Street
3
Turn right onto 3rd Street
66 ft
·
6 sec
·
3rd Street
4
Turn left onto South Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South First Street
6
Continue on US 209
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bankway Street
7
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 209
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Interchange Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 476, PATP
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
11
Merge onto I 476; PATP
39 mi
·
43 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
14
Merge onto PA 315
523 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chestnut Street
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
16
Merge onto I 81
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 81
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
18
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Lehighton, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 52.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Street
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 209 / South First Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 209 / South First Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 476, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476, PATP
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
7
52.7 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
$8.77 one way
$17.54 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.61 | $19.21 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.26 | $20.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.68 | $23.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.01
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(38.5 mi)
$5.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$5
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
City of Scranton, PA
Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
1h 5m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate primarily via Mahoning Street, 3rd Street, and South Street, which keeps you off the major expressways and grounded in the local road network. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, you should be prepared for a more engaged driving session that requires your full attention on local turns. The personality of this drive is defined by its localized path, offering a consistent pace that remains steady from start to finish. It is a practical, no-frills route that prioritizes local connectivity over highway speed.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 209 / South First Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lehighton, PA and City of Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Scranton.
Patp
2.8 mi in
|
~5m
Scranton
42.1 mi in
|
~50m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 52.9 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 (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.01 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 City of 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 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 209 / South First Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of 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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