Origin
Northampton, PA
Late night in Northampton on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northampton, PA to Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
70 mi
113 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northampton, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Northampton to Scranton is 70 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, staying within the state for the entire journey. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's ideal for a quick day trip. Given its relatively short length and direct path, it’s a practical option for moving between these two points without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 38.5 mi | 43m |
| PA 145 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| I 81 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Lehigh Drive | 7 mi | 9m |
| Interchange Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 2nd Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 38.5 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northampton, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto PA 329
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
East 21st Street
3
Continue on PA 329
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto 2nd Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
2nd Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
6
Merge onto PA 145
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
PA 145
Use the straight lane.
7
At end of road, turn left onto PA 248
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Lehigh Drive
8
Turn right onto US 209
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Interchange Road
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 476, PATP
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
11
Merge onto I 476; PATP
39 mi
·
43 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
14
Merge onto PA 315
523 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chestnut Street
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
16
Merge onto I 81
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 81
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
18
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
21
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
22
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35 miles from Northampton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 69.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
PA 145
Merge onto PA 145
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
17.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 209 / Interchange Road
Turn right onto US 209 / Interchange Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
19.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward I 476, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476, PATP
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
7
69.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
$11.61 one way
$23.21 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.71 | $25.42 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.58 | $27.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.46 | $30.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.01
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(38.5 mi)
$5.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$5
Total
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28 | 0 | $9.80 | $4.48 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 79% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, including a continuous stretch of 38.5 miles. While much of the drive is on higher-speed roads, you'll also utilize PA 145 and I-81, offering a mix of toll road and interstate driving. The character is predominantly about efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and PA 145. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near PA 145.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70 miles you will encounter 17 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 2.3 miles (PA 145): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles (US 209 / Interchange Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 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.
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 Northampton, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Patp
19.5 mi in
|
~29m
About the Cities
Arriving in Scranton, PA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 70 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.01 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.
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.
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: at 2.3 miles (PA 145): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles (US 209 / Interchange Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scranton, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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