If you are planning to travel from Mount Carmel to Scranton, prepare for a substantial journey covering 382.5 miles. This trip typically takes about 7 hours and 28 minutes to complete, making it a demanding but manageable trek for a single day of driving. You will primarily navigate via US 220, the Keystone Shortway, and I-68 to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $63 for fuel is a smart move before you head out. While the route remains entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, the length of the drive means you should be prepared for a full day on the road. It is a straightforward, highway-focused path that prioritizes efficiency over local wandering.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
191.2 miles from Mount Carmel, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 220
99.4 mi
1h 54m
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 68
77.8 mi
1h 26m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
I 99
16.3 mi
19m
United States Highway 250
12.4 mi
14m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
11.9 mi
12m
Hornet Highway
11.1 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
US 220
— 99.4 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Carmel, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on T377
0.7 mi·2 min·Mount Carmel Ridge Road
2
Continue on CR 250/32
0.2 mi·39 sec·CR 250/32
3
Continue on CR 250/14
1.9 mi·7 min·Winterhill Road
4
Turn right onto CR 250/15
2.0 mi·4 min·George Town Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 250
0.2 mi·14 sec·Dragon Highway
6
Continue on US 250
11 mi·12 min·Hornet Highway
7
Continue on US 250
9.3 mi·10 min·Husky Highway
8
Continue on US 250
1.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
9
Continue on US 250
12 mi·14 min·United States Highway 250
10
Turn left onto US 19; US 250
0.1 mi·16 sec·Adams Street
11
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·Jefferson Street
12
Turn left onto WV 310
0.2 mi·33 sec·Merchant Street
13
Continue on WV 310
1.0 mi·2 min·East Park Avenue
14
Turn right onto WV 310
0.4 mi·56 sec·Grafton Road
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
16
Merge onto I 79
12 mi·12 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
18
Continue on I 68
78 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 68
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto US 220
0.1 mi·30 sec·US 220
Exit 46Toward US 220 North: Bedford
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 220; MD 144
0.3 mi·26 sec·Ali Ghan Road
21
Turn left onto US 220
99 mi·1 hr 53 min·US 220
22
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.
23
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
24
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
25
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
27
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
29
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
30
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
32
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
33
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour and 28-minute drive, plan for at least two deliberate stops to break up the 382.5-mile trek. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion and ensure you arrive in Scranton well before dark. Since fuel costs are estimated at $63, keep an eye on your gauge during the long 99.4-mile stretch on US 220 to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, maintain a consistent pace to keep your arrival time predictable. Since you are staying within Pennsylvania, you will find the infrastructure remains relatively familiar throughout the entire trip, allowing you to focus on steady, efficient travel.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.2 miles from Mount Carmel, PA, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.4 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 84 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.2 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Carmel, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mount Carmel, PA
This is one driving day of about 382.5 miles and 7h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Mount Carmel, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 220 for about 99.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 381.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.9 mi into trip|~16m in|US 250 / Dragon Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 250 / Dragon Highway
Navigation decision point
6
231.8 mi into trip|~4h 35m 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.
6
235.7 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
7
248 mi into trip|~4h 55m 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
381.9 mi into trip|~7h 27m 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
$63.41 one way
$126.83 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$69.45
$138.90
premium
$4.93
$74.18
$148.36
diesel
$5.61
$84.45
$168.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.8
1
$40.16
$18.36
Efficient EV
95.6
1
$33.47
$15.30
EV Truck/SUV
153
1
$53.55
$24.48
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Mount Carmel, PA
Night
in Mount Carmel on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
N 8 mph13% chanceLive forecast
69°F
Cumberland, MD
191 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
15 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
7h 28m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 79.1
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 184.6
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 158.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive dominated by high-speed transit, as 62% of your journey takes place on major highways. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the road, with your longest uninterrupted stretch hitting 99.4 miles along US 220. The route offers a consistent personality, shifting between interstate travel and major highway corridors that keep your progress moving steadily. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you can anticipate a fairly uniform experience behind the wheel without the frequent technical turns of smaller local roads. Staying focused during those long highway segments is key, as the miles tend to pass quickly once you settle into the flow of traffic.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.4 mi on US 220.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 220 and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near US 250 / Dragon Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 382.5 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 4.9 miles (US 250 / Dragon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 231.8 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 235.7 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Scranton is a city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is near Wilkes-Barre, and is the seventh most populous city in the state. Today, it is perhaps best known as the setting of the hit TV show "The Office" and the birthplace of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 28m. Total distance: 382.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.4 miles on US 220. 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles (US 250 / Dragon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 231.8 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 235.7 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 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 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.
