This 284-mile journey from Manchester, PA to Scranton, PA offers a solid day trip option, estimated to take approximately 5 hours and 48 minutes. You'll primarily travel on the Keystone Shortway and William Penn Highway, with a portion on I-99, making it a mixed drive experience. With a fuel cost estimated around $47, this route is quite budget-friendly for a full day's travel. The drive stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout its 284 miles. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, and be prepared for a route that balances highway speeds with more local road segments.
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
142 miles from Manchester, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.6 mi
1h 25m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.8 mi
19m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Allegheny Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Pennsylvania Avenue
72 ft·9 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn left onto Allegheny Avenue
0.4 mi·58 sec·Allegheny Avenue
3
Turn left onto Ridge Avenue
249 ft·6 sec·Ridge Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
5
Continue on I 279
0.2 mi·22 sec·Fort Duquesne Bridge
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Downtown, MonroevilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Downtown PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on Fort Pitt Boulevard
0.2 mi·20 sec·Fort Pitt Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
10
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
14 mi·19 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 22
45 mi·1 hr 5 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
16
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
19
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
20
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
21
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
22
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
24
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
25
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 284-mile trip, leaving Manchester, PA in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. While it's manageable as a single-day drive, consider breaking it up with a stop around the halfway mark, especially given the longest uninterrupted stretch is nearly 100 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $47 suggests you'll want to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before embarking on longer sections of the Keystone Shortway. Be prepared for varying speed limits as you transition between highway and non-highway roads.
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 142 miles from Manchester, PA, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 62 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 46m
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 Manchester, 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 Manchester, PA
This is one driving day of about 284 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Manchester, 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 99.3 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 1.4 and 283.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Monroeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Downtown, Monroeville
8
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Downtown Pittsburgh
6
91.9 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
7
150.1 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
283.9 mi into trip|~5h 47m 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
$47.08 one way
$94.17 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$51.57
$103.13
premium
$4.93
$55.08
$110.16
diesel
$5.61
$62.70
$125.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.2
1
$29.82
$13.63
Efficient EV
71
0
$24.85
$11.36
EV Truck/SUV
113.6
1
$39.76
$18.18
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Manchester, PA
Morning
in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
6:59 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
6 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
5h 48m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 68.7
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 68.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Your drive from Manchester to Scranton presents a mixed bag of road types, with 36% of it being highway driving. Expect to encounter stretches of the Keystone Shortway, including one continuous segment of nearly 100 miles (99.3 miles, to be exact), which will allow for steady progress. The William Penn Highway and I-99 will also feature, contributing to a varied driving experience that transitions between faster sections and potentially more scenic, albeit slower, two-lane portions. This blend means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the entire 5 hours and 48 minutes.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 284 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: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Manchester, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
91.4 mi in|~2h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 284 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at City of Scranton, PA before the return drive.
