Oak Hills, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 278.1 miles and takes about 5h 32m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a single-day drive without needing an overnight stay. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with a significant portion on the Keystone Shortway. It's a straightforward drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently within the state.
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
139.1 miles from Oak Hills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
197.2 mi
3h 32m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Chicora Road
18.3 mi
29m
Bald Eagle Street
8.7 mi
12m
3rd Street
8.5 mi
12m
Carwick Road
4.5 mi
6m
Old Plank Road
2.2 mi
4m
East Jefferson Street
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 197.2 mi, about 3h 32m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,513
Quietest
2 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Oak Hills, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
142 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Turn sharp left onto Stratford Drive
0.1 mi·35 sec·Stratford Drive
3
Turn left onto Old Plank Road
2.2 mi·4 min·Old Plank Road
4
Continue on Roosevelt Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Roosevelt Boulevard
5
At end of road, turn left onto Pittsburgh Road
142 ft·9 sec·Pittsburgh Road
6
Turn sharp right onto PA 8
0.2 mi·31 sec·General Richard Butler Bridge
Use the slight left / right lanes.
7
Continue on PA 8
407 ft·16 sec·South Main Street
8
Turn right onto PA 356
450 ft·22 sec·East Wayne Street
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto South McKean Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South McKean Street
10
Turn right onto PA 68
1.6 mi·2 min·East Jefferson Street
11
Continue on PA 68
9.6 mi·14 min·Chicora Road
12
Continue on PA 68
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
13
Continue on PA 68
0.2 mi·14 sec·Chicora Road
14
Continue on PA 68
8.5 mi·15 min·Chicora Road
15
Turn right onto PA 68
0.4 mi·36 sec·Kellys Way
16
Turn left onto PA 68
8.5 mi·12 min·3rd Street
17
Continue on PA 68
4.5 mi·6 min·Carwick Road
18
Turn right onto PA 68
8.7 mi·12 min·Bald Eagle Street
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
20
Merge onto I 80; PA 66
197 mi·3 hr 32 min·Keystone Shortway
21
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
22
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
24
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
25
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Oak Hills early in the morning to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic delays. With a drive time of just over 5 hours, you can complete this trip in one day, but planning for one stop will make it more comfortable. The longest continuous stretch is 197.2 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that section. Given the mostly surface road profile, allow for slightly longer travel times than initially estimated, especially if you encounter local road construction or unexpected delays.
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 139.1 miles from Oak Hills, PA, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.2 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 61 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.1 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
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 Oak Hills, 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 Oak Hills, PA
This is one driving day of about 278.1 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Oak Hills, 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 197.2 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 0 and 278 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Stratford Drive
Turn sharp left onto Stratford Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|Pittsburgh Road
At end of road, turn left onto Pittsburgh Road
Navigation decision point
8
2.7 mi into trip|~7m in|PA 8 / General Richard Butler Bridge
Turn sharp right onto PA 8 / General Richard Butler Bridge
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / right lanes.
7
3 mi into trip|~7m in|PA 356 / East Wayne Street
Turn right onto PA 356 / East Wayne Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
278 mi into trip|~5h 32m 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
$48.94 one way
$97.88 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$53.52
$107.04
premium
$5.23
$57.22
$114.44
diesel
$6.18
$67.65
$135.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.4
1
$29.20
$13.35
Efficient EV
69.5
0
$24.33
$11.12
EV Truck/SUV
111.2
1
$38.93
$17.80
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Oak Hills, PA
Morning
in Oak Hills on Sunday
Local time
7:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
N 7 to 12 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
7:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Cloudy
N 13 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
11 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
5h 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only 12% of the drive on highways. You'll have a long stretch of 197.2 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other roads. Expect to encounter more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you move away from the highway segments. The majority of your time will be spent on local roads, so be prepared for varied speed limits and traffic patterns.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 197.2 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 Stratford Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 15 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 (Stratford Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.7 miles (Pittsburgh Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (PA 8 / General Richard Butler Bridge): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 197.2 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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.
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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Stratford Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.7 miles (Pittsburgh Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (PA 8 / General Richard Butler Bridge): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at City of Scranton, PA before the return drive.
