New Brighton, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 314.5 miles and takes about 6h via I-79 and I-81, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The majority of this route utilizes interstate highways, making for relatively straightforward travel. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under 7 hours, it's a manageable one-day trip. You'll find the fuel costs are quite reasonable for this distance.
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
157.3 miles from New Brighton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.8 mi
4h 18m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
I 79
19.9 mi
21m
Mercer Road
9.3 mi
17m
Portersville Road
7.9 mi
13m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Penn Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
East Portersville Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Brighton, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on 13th Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·13th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto Penn Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Penn Avenue
3
Turn right onto PA 65
0.4 mi·42 sec·Mercer Avenue
4
Continue on PA 65
7.3 mi·12 min·Mercer Road
5
Turn right onto Mercer Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Mercer Road
6
Continue on PA 488
7.9 mi·13 min·Portersville Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 19; PA 488
0.2 mi·21 sec·Perry Highway
8
Turn slight left onto PA 488
0.6 mi·1 min·East Portersville Road
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
10
Merge onto I 79
20 mi·21 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
12
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
14
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
16
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from New Brighton, PA, to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 314.5 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 239.8-mile mark on the Keystone Shortway, as services can be more spread out in some sections. The estimated fuel cost of $52 should help you budget accordingly, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. This route is quite flexible, so you can adjust your pace as needed.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 157.3 miles from New Brighton, PA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.8 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 69 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.3 miles or 3h 4m 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 52m
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 New Brighton, 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 New Brighton, PA
This is one driving day of about 314.5 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from New Brighton, 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 239.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.7 and 314.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
18.7 mi into trip|~33m in|US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway
Navigation decision point
4
19.5 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
19.7 mi into trip|~35m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
280.1 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
314.4 mi into trip|~6h 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
$52.14 one way
$104.28 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$57.11
$114.21
premium
$4.93
$60.99
$121.99
diesel
$5.61
$69.44
$138.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
35 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Exxon - Tesla Supercharger
Milton, PA
Tesla
16 DCFC
Sheetz - Tesla Supercharger
Harrisville, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
URBN Flavourhaus Lamar - Tesla Supercharger
Mill Hall, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Shell Station - Tesla Supercharger
Drums, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Laurel Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Hazleton, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Wilkes-Barre Township Commons - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.4
1
$33.02
$15.10
Efficient EV
78.6
0
$27.52
$12.58
EV Truck/SUV
125.8
1
$44.03
$20.13
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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 19, 2026
Origin
New Brighton, PA
Late night
in New Brighton on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
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
27 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
6h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with interstates like I-79 and I-81 making up 17% of the total mileage. You'll experience a significant stretch of 239.8 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other highways. Expect to encounter more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds as you move between major roadways and local surface streets. The initial portion of your drive will likely involve more rural cruising.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.8 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.7 miles in near US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 314.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 18.7 miles (US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway): Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.7 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h. Total distance: 314.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.8 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 18.7 miles (US 19; PA 488 / Perry Highway): Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.7 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 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.
