Northern Cambria, PA to Scranton, PA is 220.4 miles and takes about 4h 10m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. The drive primarily uses surface roads, making it a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate trip. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable drive for most travelers looking to cover ground without an overnight stop.
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
110.2 miles from Northern Cambria, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
139.7 mi
2h 31m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Mahaffey Grampian Highway
9.8 mi
11m
Patchin Highway
6.3 mi
7m
Curwensville Grampian Road
4.7 mi
5m
Clearfield Shawville Highway
4.2 mi
6m
Burnside McGee Highway
4.2 mi
4m
Shawna Road
3.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 139.7 mi, about 2h 31m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,116 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,517
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Northern Cambria, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on 39th Street
81 ft·5 sec·39th Street
2
Turn right onto Crawford Avenue
0.3 mi·38 sec·Crawford Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 219
1.2 mi·1 min·Philadelphia Avenue
4
Continue on US 219
3.6 mi·4 min·Shawna Road
5
Continue on US 219
0.7 mi·52 sec·South Main Street
6
Turn right onto US 219
318 ft·4 sec·Market Street
7
Continue on US 219
6.3 mi·7 min·Patchin Highway
8
Continue on US 219
2.1 mi·2 min·Main Street
9
Continue on US 219
4.2 mi·4 min·Burnside McGee Highway
10
Continue on US 219
515 ft·6 sec·Burnside - McGees Highway
11
Continue on US 219; PA 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Colonel Drake Highway
12
Continue on US 219; PA 36
0.5 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
13
Continue on US 219
9.8 mi·11 min·Mahaffey Grampian Highway
14
Continue on US 219
0.7 mi·47 sec·1st Street
15
Continue on PA 879
4.7 mi·5 min·Curwensville Grampian Road
16
Continue on PA 879
2.6 mi·2 min·Curwensville Grampian Highway
17
Continue on PA 879
0.4 mi·24 sec·Curwensville Grampain Highway
18
Continue on PA 879
2.0 mi·2 min·Clearfield Curwensville Highway
19
Turn right onto PA 879
4.2 mi·6 min·Clearfield Shawville Highway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
21
Merge onto I 80
140 mi·2 hr 31 min·Keystone Shortway
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
23
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
25
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
28
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
29
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4h 10m drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and ensure a relaxed pace. Since it’s a one-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but plan for at least one break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer stretches of the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent than on a full interstate. The fuel cost is estimated at $39, so budget accordingly before you set out from Northern Cambria.
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 110.2 miles from Northern Cambria, PA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.7 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 48 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 20m
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 Northern Cambria, 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 Northern Cambria, PA
This is one driving day of about 220.4 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Northern Cambria, 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 139.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 220.4 — 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|Crawford Avenue
Turn right onto Crawford Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
185.5 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
219.8 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
220.2 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
220.4 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.14 one way
$70.29 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$38.89
$77.78
premium
$4.81
$41.72
$83.44
diesel
$4.80
$41.62
$83.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.14
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.86
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Northern Cambria, PA
Evening
in Northern Cambria on Monday
Local time
8:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 13 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:00PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:59PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Scranton, PA
Evening
in Scranton on Monday
Local time
8:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 13 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:00PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:59PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
2 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
4h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 220.4 miles, with 15% on highways. You'll encounter 139.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which is the longest stretch before transitioning to other roads. Expect a profile that is mostly surface roads, meaning you'll likely experience more local traffic and varied speed limits after leaving the highway segments.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Crawford Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 10m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Crawford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 185.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 219.8 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Crawford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 185.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 219.8 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
