New Columbia, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 84.7 miles and takes about 1h 39m via Keystone Shortway & I 81, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward drive. You'll mostly be on highways, making it a quick connection between these two points. Given the short duration, it's an ideal option for a same-day trip, allowing for easy transitions and plenty of time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.4 miles from New Columbia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
49 mi
53m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Westbranch Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
New Columbia Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Old Route 15
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 49 mi, about 53m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,313 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,819
Quietest
2 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Columbia, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Old Route 15
75 ft·6 sec·Old Route 15
2
Turn right onto New Columbia Road
0.1 mi·17 sec·New Columbia Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
4
Merge onto US 15
0.4 mi·29 sec·Westbranch Highway
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: BloomsburgUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 80
49 mi·53 min·Keystone Shortway
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
8
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
10
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
11
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
This is a manageable 1h 39m drive, so you can leave anytime that suits your schedule. With only 84.7 miles, there's no need to split the drive, and you have flexibility for spontaneous stops if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $14, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Keep an eye out for the shift from highway to surface streets as you get closer to Scranton to prepare for slower speeds and potential traffic.
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 42.4 miles from New Columbia, PA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 47m 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 23m
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 Columbia, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Columbia, PA
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from New Columbia, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 49 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.5 — 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|New Columbia Road
Turn right onto New Columbia Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
5
50.3 mi into trip|~56m 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
4
83.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
$13.82 one way
$27.64 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$15.20
$30.39
premium
$4.86
$16.22
$32.43
diesel
$5.40
$18.02
$36.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
18 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Exxon - Tesla Supercharger
Milton, PA
Tesla
16 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
Wilkes-Barre Township, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Scranton, PA Rechargery @ Sheetz - Scranton Carbondale Hwy
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.07
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
EV Truck/SUV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 26, 2026
Origin
New Columbia, PA
Evening
in New Columbia on Sunday
Local time
5:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Evening
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
5:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% 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
3 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 39m 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?
About 38% of this 84.7-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter your longest stretch of highway at 49 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to I 81 and then surface roads like River Street. Expect a mix of highway cruising and more local driving as you approach Scranton. The transition from rural highway to more developed areas will be noticeable.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near New Columbia Road.
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 84.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 (New Columbia Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 84.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 (New Columbia Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
