This 101.6-mile drive from Limerick, PA to Scranton, PA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 9 minutes. With 77% of the route on highways, it's a practical option for a single-day trip, especially considering the estimated fuel cost of $17. You'll primarily be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81, offering a consistent driving experience. Since there are no suggested stops and the drive is relatively short, you have a lot of flexibility in your timing. This route stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, making it a convenient connection for local travelers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Limerick, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
This 2-hour, 9-minute drive is well-suited for a single day, so consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's an economical trip. You won't need to plan for extensive stops given the short distance, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before starting the 70.2-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. While the route is primarily highway, be aware of potential traffic on I-81 as you get closer to Scranton. A specific tip: check your GPS for any potential construction delays on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension before you depart, as this is your longest continuous segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Limerick, PA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.2 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 22 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Limerick, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Limerick, PA
This is one driving day of about 101.6 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Limerick, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 70.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 100.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Ridge Pike
Turn left onto West Ridge Pike
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|Swamp Pike
Enter roundabout onto Swamp Pike
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
19.9 mi into trip|~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 North: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 476 North: Allentown
5
20.2 mi into trip|~36m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
100.9 mi into trip|~2h 8m 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
$16.84 one way
$33.69 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.45
$36.90
premium
$4.93
$19.70
$39.41
diesel
$5.61
$22.43
$44.86
Estimated Tolls: $9.12
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(70.2 mi)$9.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.22
$6.50
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Limerick, PA
Late night
in Limerick on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 3 to 7 mph64% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:57PM EDT until April 14 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:51PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
17 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
2h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this 101.6-mile route, with 77% of your travel time spent on major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 70.2 miles on the Turnpike, indicating long periods of consistent speed. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed highways, the final portion may involve navigating local roads like Layfield Road as you approach your destination. This means you'll have a mix of open highway cruising and potentially some more varied driving conditions toward the end.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.2 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near West Ridge Pike.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 101.6 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: near the start (West Ridge Pike): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Swamp Pike): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Limerick, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 101.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.2 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.12 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Ridge Pike): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Swamp Pike): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, First State National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scranton, PA before heading back.
