Origin
Lehighton, PA
Morning in Lehighton on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lehighton, PA to Scranton, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.3 mi
86 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 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lehighton, PA
Andaru Firmansyah
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Lehighton to Scranton, you are looking at a straightforward 53.3-mile journey through Pennsylvania’s Northeast region. The trip typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $9 on fuel for the one-way trek. Since this route is entirely contained within the Northeast region of the state, you won't experience major geographic shifts, but the convenience of the trip makes it a reliable choice for regional travel. Whether you are heading north for business or leisure, the high percentage of highway driving ensures a predictable and efficient arrival.
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 |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bankway Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South First Street | 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 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
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
21
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
22
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 26.7 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 165 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
$8.84 one way
$17.67 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.34 | $20.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
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: 18.6 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 | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
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
Scranton, PA
Morning in Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Hudson, PA
27 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
19 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 6m 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?
This 53.3-mile route is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on major arteries like the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 38.5 miles on the Turnpike. Expect a blend of high-speed transit and local transitions, particularly when navigating the initial segments on Interchange Road. While the drive is functional rather than scenic, the limited complexity of the roads allows for a smooth, consistent pace behind the wheel. You will find that the transitions between the Turnpike and I-81 are the primary points of focus as you navigate toward Scranton.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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 53.3 miles you will encounter 16 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.
On the drive from Lehighton, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Patp
2.8 mi in
|
~5m
About the Cities
Starting in Lehighton, PA
Full guide →Lehighton is a borough in the Coal Region, near Jim Thorpe, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America.
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 6m. Total distance: 53.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m 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 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 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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