Montour County Rest Area Eastbound
0 mi from route
Trip from McKeesport, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 45m
Distance
278.6 mi
448 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 32m
★
6 AM
5h 45m
8 AM
6h 11m
10 AM
5h 54m
12 PM
5h 52m
3 PM
5h 56m
5 PM
6h 10m
8 PM
5h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McKeesport, PA
Michael Taccetta
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
McKeesport, PA to Scranton, PA is 278.6 miles and takes about 5h 45m via Keystone Shortway and I 99, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. With a recommended one-day drive, this route offers a straightforward path for getting from point A to point B without excessive time commitment.
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
139.3 miles from McKeesport, 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 | 59.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| I 99 | 57.2 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Admiral Peary Highway | 13.7 mi | 19m |
| 5th Avenue | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| Mosside Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Broadway Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical · worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKeesport, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Penny Street
17 ft
·
2 sec
·
Penny Street
2
Turn right onto PA 148
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto PA 148; Yellow Belt
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lysle Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on PA 148; Yellow Belt
4.5 mi
·
8 min
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Yellow Belt
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Patton Street
6
Turn right onto Avenue U
214 ft
·
6 sec
·
Avenue U
7
At end of road, turn right onto Avenue U
229 ft
·
11 sec
·
Avenue U
8
Turn left onto Watkins Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Watkins Avenue
9
Continue on State Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
State Street
10
Continue on PA 130
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Boulevard
11
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Mosside Boulevard
12
Turn straight
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
13
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Northern Pike
14
Turn right onto US 22
43 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 22
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 22
17 mi
·
19 min
·
William Penn Highway
17
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
19
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi
·
44 min
·
I 99; US 220
20
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.
21
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
22
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Use the left lane.
23
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
Keystone Shortway
24
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
25
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
27
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
28
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 45 minute estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip within daylight hours. The route includes one recommended stop, which is a reasonable break point for a single-day drive of this length. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $50. A good tip for this drive is to be prepared for the change in road type around the 99.3-mile mark on the Keystone Shortway, where you'll transition from continuous highway to surface 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 139.3 miles from McKeesport, 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 61 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.3 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 44m
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 McKeesport, 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 McKeesport, PA
This is one driving day of about 278.6 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from McKeesport, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 139.3 miles from McKeesport, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Luzerne County Rest Area Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Blue Ridge Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
TA
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 278.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 148; Yellow Belt / Lysle Boulevard
Turn right onto PA 148; Yellow Belt / Lysle Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
86.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m 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
6
128.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
|
I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
144.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m 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
278.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 44m 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
$44.42 one way
$88.84 round trip
$4.05/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $49.16 | $98.32 |
| premium | $4.81 | $52.74 | $105.47 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $52.60 | $105.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.6 | 1 | $29.25 | $13.37 |
| Efficient EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.38 | $11.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.4 | 1 | $39.00 | $17.83 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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.
Origin
McKeesport, PA
Late night in McKeesport on Monday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
SE 5 mph
50% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Late night in City of Scranton on Monday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Areas Of Smoke
SE 0 to 3 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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 45m 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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 67.2
Park Closure: North Abutment Overlook Closure
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 57.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 32% of this 278.6-mile route is highway. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of highway at 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After that, expect a transition to surface roads, offering a different driving pace. This mix means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more local road conditions.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 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?
8/10
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 0.3 miles in near PA 148; Yellow Belt / Lysle Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 278.6 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: at 0.3 miles (PA 148; Yellow Belt / Lysle Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,280 ft
514 ft
Total Climb
2,799 ft
Total Descent
2,818 ft
Highest Point
2,280 ft
~79.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,766 ft
Notable High Points
1,465 ft at ~179.3 miles
+696 ft prominence
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 McKeesport, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
85.9 mi in
|
~2h 6m
About the Cities
Starting in McKeesport, PA
Full guide →Founded 1891
Top landmarks
- • Jerome Street Bridge — bridge in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, 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 5h 45m. Total distance: 278.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m 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 0.3 miles (PA 148; Yellow Belt / Lysle Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 11.5 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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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