Trip from Lock Haven, 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

2h 25m

Distance

124.5 mi

200 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

2h 15m ★

6 AM

2h 25m

8 AM

2h 45m

10 AM

2h 32m

12 PM

2h 30m

3 PM

2h 33m

5 PM

2h 44m

8 PM

2h 19m

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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Lock Haven, PA

Wikimedia Commons

City of Scranton, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

This 124.5-mile drive from Lock Haven, PA, to the City of Scranton, PA, will take approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes. It's a straightforward trip primarily using the Keystone Shortway, I-81, and the Appalachian Throughway, making it easily manageable as a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, this route is quite economical for a weekend getaway or a quick visit. You'll be traveling within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania for the entire journey, experiencing a mix of road types. This drive is perfect for those looking for a relatively short and efficient journey between two points in the state.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

62.3 miles from Lock Haven, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	81.5 mi	1h 28m
I 81	32.4 mi	39m
Appalachian Throughway	7.1 mi	9m
River Street	1 mi	1m
Paul Mack Boulevard	0.4 mi	<1m
East Church Street	0.2 mi	<1m
Cedar Avenue	0.2 mi	<1m
North Jay Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 81.5 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lock Haven, PA and City of Scranton, PA.

Start on Mill Street

296 ft · 18 sec · Mill Street

Turn left onto PA 150

0.2 mi · 27 sec · East Church Street

Turn right onto PA 120

340 ft · 11 sec · North Jay Street

Continue on PA 120

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Paul Mack Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Toward US 220 South: Milesburg, State College Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto US 220

7.1 mi · 9 min · Appalachian Throughway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 80

81 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

Merge onto I 81

32 mi · 39 min · I 81

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward PA 307

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Cedar Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

Cedar Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 2 hours and 25-minute duration, this trip works well as a day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize your daylight hours. While there are no mandatory stops listed, consider breaks along the Keystone Shortway for comfort. With a fuel cost around $21, it's an affordable journey, so monitoring your fuel gauge is more about convenience than budget. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to signage as you transition from the Keystone Shortway to I-81 and then to the Appalachian Throughway, as these changes can be frequent.

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 62.3 miles from Lock Haven, PA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.5 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 27 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 62.3 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 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Lock Haven, 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 Lock Haven, PA

This is one driving day of about 124.5 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Lock Haven, PA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 81.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mechanicsville, PA

62 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

Carroll, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mechanicsville, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.3 miles from Lock Haven, 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 81.5 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.

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 124.5

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 124.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | PA 150 / East Church Street

Turn left onto PA 150 / East Church Street

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | PA 120 / North Jay Street

Turn right onto PA 120 / North Jay Street

Navigation decision point

0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward US 220 South: Milesburg, State College

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 220 South: Milesburg, State College

90.1 mi into trip | ~1h 41m 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

124.3 mi into trip | ~2h 24m 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

$20.64 one way

$41.28 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$22.61	$45.21
premium	$4.93	$24.15	$48.29
diesel	$5.61	$27.49	$54.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	37.4	$13.07	$5.98
Efficient EV	31.1	$10.89	$4.98
EV Truck/SUV	49.8	$17.43	$7.97

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (66% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Lock Haven, PA

Morning in Lock Haven on Sunday

Local time

9:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Scranton, PA

Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday

Local time

9:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 9 mph 3% chance Live forecast

66°F

Mechanicsville, PA

62 mi in

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

21 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 25m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll find this drive to be a turn-heavy local experience, despite having 26% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 81.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a good period of consistent travel. Beyond that, expect a more varied driving experience with frequent changes in road type and direction as you navigate through local areas. This profile suggests a route that requires your attention, moving from potentially faster highway sections to more winding local roads as you approach your destination.

Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 81.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

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 0.1 miles in near PA 150 / East Church Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (PA 150 / East Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (PA 120 / North Jay Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,758 ft 550 ft

Total Climb

1,931 ft

Total Descent

1,752 ft

Highest Point

1,758 ft

~17.8 mi in

Elevation Range

1,208 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Lock Haven, PA

Full guide →

Lock Haven is a city in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The city is the county seat of Clinton County.

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 2h 25m. Total distance: 124.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 81.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Lock Haven, PA or browse trips ending in City of Scranton, PA.

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Trip from Lock Haven, PA to City of Scranton, PA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Tesla Supercharger

EVgo Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lock Haven, PA

City of Scranton, PA

Same local time

21 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 25m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Lock Haven, PA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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