Paxtang, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 120.1 miles and takes about 2h 24m via American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns and a more local feel, rather than a straightforward interstate journey. It’s a manageable distance for a single day, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct route between these two points without extensive highway driving.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.1 miles from Paxtang, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
113.7 mi
2h 13m
Derry Street
1.1 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
South Paxtang Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 113.7 mi, about 2h 13m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,332 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,711
Quietest
2 AM
~304 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Paxtang, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on South Paxtang Avenue
13 ft·4 sec·South Paxtang Avenue
2
Turn right onto Derry Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Derry Street
3
Take the ramp
3.5 mi·5 min
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi·47 sec
Exit 51BToward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
5
Merge onto I 81
114 mi·2 hr 13 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
7
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 24m duration and the "Turn-heavy local drive" profile, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to take advantage of daylight. With no designated stops in the data, this 120.1-mile trip is easily completed in one day, so flexibility is your advantage. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $20, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially since the highway share is zero. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the sequence of main roads – American Legion Memorial Highway, Derry Street, and River Street – before you depart to better anticipate the turns.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.1 miles from Paxtang, PA, or about 1h 12m 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.1 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
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 Paxtang, 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 Paxtang, PA
This is one driving day of about 120.1 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Paxtang, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 120 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Derry Street
Turn right onto Derry Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 83 North, US 322 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West
6
4.6 mi into trip|~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
5
5.1 mi into trip|~8m in|I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
120 mi into trip|~2h 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
$19.59 one way
$39.19 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$21.55
$43.09
premium
$4.86
$22.99
$45.99
diesel
$5.40
$25.55
$51.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36
0
$12.61
$5.76
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.51
$4.80
EV Truck/SUV
48
0
$16.81
$7.69
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 24, 2026
Origin
Paxtang, PA
Afternoon
in Paxtang on Sunday
Local time
2:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
2:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
35°F
Cranberry, PA
60 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
4 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
2h 24m 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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 24.9
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a "Turn-heavy local drive," with a 0% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on roads like American Legion Memorial Highway, Derry Street, and River Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 113.7 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires more attention to navigation due to the frequent turns, offering a more intimate connection with the Pennsylvania landscape as you go.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 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?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Derry Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Paxtang, PA to City of Scranton, PA is easy. At 2h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Derry Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 120.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
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 (Derry Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. 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 City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
