Origin
McSherrystown, PA
Afternoon in McSherrystown on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McSherrystown, 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
3h 24m
Distance
160.7 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McSherrystown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
McSherrystown to Scranton is 160.7 miles and takes about 3h 24m via American Legion Memorial Highway and US 15, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region from its southern edge to its northern reaches. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and local road segments, rather than a purely high-speed highway experience. Given its manageable duration, it's well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.4 miles from McSherrystown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 113.7 mi | 2h 13m |
| US 15 | 18.6 mi | 26m |
| Carlisle Pike | 13.2 mi | 19m |
| I 83 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| High Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Elm Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 113.7 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McSherrystown, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 116
96 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on West Elm Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Elm Avenue
3
Turn left onto High Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
High Street
4
Turn right onto West Eisenhower Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Eisenhower Drive
5
Turn left onto PA 94
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Carlisle Street
6
Continue on PA 94
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Carlisle Pike
7
Enter roundabout onto PA 94
183 ft
·
3 sec
·
Carlisle Pike
8
Continue on PA 94
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Carlisle Pike
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
10
Merge onto US 15
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 15
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 15
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 15
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto PA 581
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
14
Continue on PA 581
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Exit 6A
Toward I 83 North: Harrisburg, Hershey
15
Merge onto I 83
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 83
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
I 83
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Use the slight left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 51B
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
18
Merge onto I 81
114 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
20
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
With a driving time of just over three hours and a fuel cost estimated at $27, this trip is comfortably achievable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for any unscheduled stops. Since the longest stretch without a turn is over 100 miles, you'll have a good opportunity to settle in before the more varied local driving begins. Plan your final fuel stop before reaching the more rural sections of US 15 to ensure you have plenty of gas as you approach Scranton.
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 80.4 miles from McSherrystown, PA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.7 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 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.4 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
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 McSherrystown, 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 McSherrystown, PA
This is one driving day of about 160.7 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from McSherrystown, 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 113.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.4 miles from McSherrystown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before American Legion Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.7 miles.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 9.9 and 160.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
PA 94 / Carlisle Pike
Enter roundabout onto PA 94 / Carlisle Pike
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
34.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
7
41.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
I 83
Take the exit onto I 83 toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
45.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 51B
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
7
160.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m 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
$26.64 one way
$53.28 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $29.18 | $58.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $31.17 | $62.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.48 | $70.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.87 | $7.71 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.06 | $6.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.3 | 0 | $22.50 | $10.28 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 1 to 6 mph
2% chance
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
22 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
3h 24m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 67
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 27.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a more engaged driving experience, characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive' with only 17% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including the American Legion Memorial Highway and US 15, which contribute to its dynamic feel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 113.7 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway, providing a good period of consistent travel before you encounter more varied road conditions. Be prepared for a driving profile that requires attention to navigation and road changes.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.7 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in near PA 94 / Carlisle Pike.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 160.7 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 9.9 miles (PA 94 / Carlisle Pike): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.1 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between McSherrystown, PA and City of Scranton, PA, road signs point toward York, Hershey, State College and Allentown.
York
34.3 mi in
|
~51m
Hershey
36.3 mi in
|
~54m
|
via PA 581
State College
41.1 mi in
|
~1h 1m
|
via I 83
Allentown
45.1 mi in
|
~1h 6m
About the Cities
Starting in McSherrystown, PA
Full guide →Founded 1765
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 3h 24m. Total distance: 160.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.7 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.9 miles (PA 94 / Carlisle Pike): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.1 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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