Newtown, PA to Scranton, PA is 114.6 miles and takes about 2h 30m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you need to get between these two points efficiently without a lot of fuss.
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
57.3 miles from Newtown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Given the 2.5-hour duration, leaving in the morning from Newtown, PA, allows ample time to reach Scranton, PA, within the same day. You'll have one primary stop suggested, likely at a service plaza on the Turnpike, but it's short enough that you may not need many breaks. Pay attention to the transition points between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81, as this is where the driving environment changes. The estimated fuel cost of $19 is based on the 114.6 miles, so budget accordingly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.3 miles from Newtown, PA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.2 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 25 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.3 miles or 1h 23m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Newtown, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Newtown, PA
This is one driving day of about 114.6 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Newtown, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 70.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.9 and 114 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
32.9 mi into trip|~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 North: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 476 North: Allentown
5
33.2 mi into trip|~56m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
103.4 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
5
104.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 315 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
7
114 mi into trip|~2h 28m 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
$18.44 one way
$36.87 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$20.75
$41.50
premium
$4.95
$22.35
$44.70
diesel
$5.98
$26.98
$53.96
Estimated Tolls: $9.12
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(70.2 mi)$9.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.03
$5.50
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.03
$4.58
EV Truck/SUV
45.8
0
$16.04
$7.33
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Newtown, PA
Evening
in Newtown on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Evening
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
46°F
Haines, PA
57 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
6 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
2h 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 19.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 71% of the driving on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 70.2 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which means extended highway cruising. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for a portion of the drive. Expect a consistent pace with fewer exits during the highway segments.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.2 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Durham Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.9 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 15 significant decision points across 114.6 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 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Newtown, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Newtown is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Surrounded by beautiful farmlands, this small town was also the location where the movie Signs was filmed in part. It is a cute town with plenty of places to visit, eat and see.
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.
Top landmarks
•St. Peter's Cathedral — historic church in Pennsylvania, United States
•Steamtown National Historic Site — railroad museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania
•Albright Memorial Building — library in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 114.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.2 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.12 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scranton, PA before heading back.
