New Freedom, PA to Scranton, PA is 165.9 miles and takes about 3 hours 26 minutes via American Legion Memorial Highway and I-83, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily in Pennsylvania. Expect a route that's mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate drive. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, it's a straightforward trip for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83 miles from New Freedom, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
113.7 mi
2h 13m
I 83
46.1 mi
58m
North Constitution Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
East Forrest Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Biden Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 113.7 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Freedom, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Factory Alley
147 ft·11 sec·Factory Alley
2
Turn right onto PA 851 Truck
0.1 mi·24 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto PA 851 Truck
1.7 mi·3 min·North Constitution Avenue
4
Turn left onto PA 851 Truck
1.1 mi·2 min·South Main Street
5
Turn right onto PA 851
0.6 mi·1 min·East Forrest Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on PA 851
374 ft·16 sec·East Forrest Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 83 North: YorkUse the straight / left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 83
42 mi·53 min·I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 83
4.0 mi·5 min·I 83
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State CollegeUse the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·47 sec
Exit 51BToward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
11
Merge onto I 81
114 mi·2 hr 13 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
13
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
16
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
17
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 26 minute estimated drive time, leaving New Freedom, PA in the morning should get you to Scranton with plenty of daylight remaining. Since this is a single-day trip with only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Plan to refuel before leaving New Freedom if your tank is low, as the $28 fuel cost is an estimate and you'll want to avoid unexpected stops. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the American Legion Memorial Highway and I-83 to ensure you're on the most efficient path.
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 83 miles from New Freedom, PA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.7 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 36 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
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 New Freedom, 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 Freedom, PA
This is one driving day of about 165.9 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from New Freedom, 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 113.7 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 2.9 and 165.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in|PA 851 / East Forrest Avenue
Turn right onto PA 851 / East Forrest Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
3.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 83 North: York
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 83 North: York
7
45.9 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 83
Take the exit onto I 83 toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
49.9 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 51B
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
7
165.3 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
$27.50 one way
$55.01 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$30.12
$60.25
premium
$4.93
$32.17
$64.35
diesel
$5.61
$36.63
$73.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
17 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Shrewsbury Commons - Tesla Supercharger
Shrewsbury, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Dunkn' Middletown
Middletown, PA
NAYAX_ENERGY
12 DCFC
Giant - Tesla Supercharger
Harrisburg, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
The Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.8
0
$17.42
$7.96
Efficient EV
41.5
0
$14.52
$6.64
EV Truck/SUV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 20, 2026
Origin
New Freedom, PA
Morning
in New Freedom on Tuesday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
South Lebanon, PA
83 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 68.7
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 40.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads, with only 28% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 113.7 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway, which will likely feel like more rural cruising. After that, you'll transition to I-83 for a portion before returning to surface streets in the latter part of the drive. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and traffic signals once you leave the limited-access sections.
Only 28% 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: 113.7 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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 2.9 miles in near PA 851 / East Forrest Avenue.
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 165.9 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 2.9 miles (PA 851 / East Forrest Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between New Freedom, PA and Scranton, PA, road signs point toward State College and Allentown.
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 3h 26m. Total distance: 165.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.7 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. 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 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 2.9 miles (PA 851 / East Forrest Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
