Montgomery, PA to Scranton, PA is 94 miles and takes about 1 hour 54 minutes via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward journey between two points in the state. You'll find it's a practical option for a day trip or as a connecting leg in a larger road trip. The drive is about 45% highway, suggesting a mix of driving experiences. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it’s well-suited for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47 miles from Montgomery, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
47.4 mi
51m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
I 180
5.1 mi
5m
PA 54
4.8 mi
8m
2nd Street
1.1 mi
1m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Montgomery Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 47.4 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montgomery, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on West Houston Avenue
37 ft·3 sec·West Houston Avenue
2
Turn right onto PA 54
420 ft·15 sec·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto PA 54
0.1 mi·13 sec·Montgomery Street
4
Turn right onto PA 54; PA 405
1.1 mi·1 min·2nd Street
5
Turn slight left onto PA 54
4.8 mi·8 min·PA 54
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
7
Merge onto I 180
5.1 mi·5 min·I 180
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward I 80 East: BloomsburgUse the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
47 mi·51 min·Keystone Shortway
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
12
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
14
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Scranton with ample time to explore or continue your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is under 50 miles, meaning you won't be without opportunities for breaks for too long. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the $16 estimated cost suggests it's an economical trip, but it’s always wise to start with a full tank. This route is short enough that you can easily adjust your departure time based on traffic or your personal schedule.
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 47 miles from Montgomery, PA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.4 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 miles or 56m 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 32m
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 Montgomery, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Montgomery, PA
This is one driving day of about 94 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Montgomery, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 47.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 93.8 — 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|PA 54 / South Main Street
Turn right onto PA 54 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 54 / Montgomery Street
Turn left onto PA 54 / Montgomery Street
Navigation decision point
6
11.5 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
5
59.6 mi into trip|~1h 10m 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
7
93.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
$15.58 one way
$31.17 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.07
$34.14
premium
$4.93
$18.23
$36.46
diesel
$5.61
$20.75
$41.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.87
$4.51
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.16
$6.02
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 18, 2026
Origin
Montgomery, PA
Morning
in Montgomery on Sunday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 3 to 14 mph3% chanceLive 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
30 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
1h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a mixed drive, with nearly half of the 94 miles on highways. You'll spend a significant portion on the Keystone Shortway, including a stretch of 47.4 miles without needing to exit. The route then transitions to I-81 and I-180, offering a more typical interstate experience. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway driving and potentially some sections with more local road characteristics as you approach your destination. The drive's personality shifts gradually as you progress from the Keystone Shortway to the interstate segments.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 54 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 54 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (PA 54 / Montgomery Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 94 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 54 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (PA 54 / Montgomery Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
