Spanning 218.7 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip from Nanty Glo to Scranton typically takes about 4 hours and 13 minutes to complete. Because the duration is manageable for a single day of travel, you can comfortably make this a one-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Northeast region, your journey will primarily utilize I-99, the Keystone Shortway, and I-81. Since this is a mixed-drive route, you can expect a variety of road conditions that keep the experience engaging rather than repetitive. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward path between these two Pennsylvania hubs.
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
109.4 miles from Nanty Glo, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
William Penn Highway
16.8 mi
19m
Admiral Peary Highway
7.4 mi
11m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Shoemaker Street
0.8 mi
1m
William Penn Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nanty Glo, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Chestnut Street
60 ft·4 sec·Chestnut Street
2
Turn right onto School Street
168 ft·9 sec·School Street
3
Turn right onto Dispatch Street
189 ft·10 sec·Dispatch Street
4
Turn right onto 2nd Street
178 ft·9 sec·2nd Street
5
Turn left onto PA 271
0.1 mi·15 sec·Chestnut Street
6
Continue on PA 271
0.8 mi·1 min·Shoemaker Street
7
Continue on PA 271
0.7 mi·1 min·William Penn Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward US 22 East: Ebensburg
9
Merge onto US 22
7.4 mi·11 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
13
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
14
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.
15
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
16
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
19
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
21
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 13-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the travel time. Since the Keystone Shortway accounts for a large portion of your mileage, check traffic conditions before you depart to ensure your progress remains steady across that 99.3-mile stretch. Keep your fuel budget of $36 in mind, and try to refuel during your scheduled stop to avoid any last-minute stress near your destination. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy for avoiding congestion, as this provides you with the flexibility to handle any unexpected road variations. By planning your single stop strategically, you can keep your energy levels high for the duration of the trip.
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 109.4 miles from Nanty Glo, PA, or about 2h 7m 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 48 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.4 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
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 Nanty Glo, 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 Nanty Glo, PA
This is one driving day of about 218.7 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Nanty Glo, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.6 and 218.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
26.6 mi into trip|~35m 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
68.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m 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
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
218.6 mi into trip|~4h 12m 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
$36.26 one way
$72.52 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.71
$79.42
premium
$4.93
$42.41
$84.83
diesel
$5.61
$48.29
$96.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.6
0
$22.96
$10.50
Efficient EV
54.7
0
$19.14
$8.75
EV Truck/SUV
87.5
1
$30.62
$14.00
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Nanty Glo, PA
Morning
in Nanty Glo on Tuesday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
40 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
4h 13m 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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route is classified as a mixed drive with 41% of the journey spent on highways. The most significant portion of your travel occurs on the Keystone Shortway, which features a long, 99.3-mile uninterrupted stretch. You will transition between these high-speed interstate segments and other local road conditions, requiring you to stay alert as the environment shifts. Because the landscape evolves as you move through the state, the drive maintains a decent pace without feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. Prepare for a balanced mix of steady highway cruising and more technical driving segments that characterize this 4-hour journey.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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 26.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 218.7 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 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.5 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.4 miles (I 99; US 220): 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 Nanty Glo, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
26.1 mi in|~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 218.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m 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.
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 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.5 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.4 miles (I 99; US 220): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
