Origin
Philipsburg, PA
Afternoon in Philipsburg on Sunday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Philipsburg, 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
3h 17m
Distance
169.8 mi
273 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Philipsburg, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 169.8-mile drive from Philipsburg to Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a manageable one-day adventure, estimated to take about 3 hours and 17 minutes. You'll primarily navigate using the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a portion on I-99. With a highway share of 29%, expect a mix of driving experiences. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $28, making it an economical choice. This route is well-suited for a single-day journey, requiring just one stop along the way, and keeps you within the Northeast region of the US.
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
84.9 miles from Philipsburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 99.3 mi | 1h 47m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| I 99 | 16.3 mi | 19m |
| 28th Division Highway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Port Matilda Highway | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Upper Flat Rock Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Flat Rock Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Philipsburg, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 53; Historic US 322
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Presqueisle Street
2
Turn right onto US 322
522 ft
·
12 sec
·
Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
3
Continue on US 322
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Port Matilda Highway
4
Turn slight right onto US 322
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Upper Flat Rock Road
5
Continue on US 322
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Flat Rock Road
6
Continue on US 322
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
28th Division Highway
Toward US 322 East: State College
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
9
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
Keystone Shortway
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
12
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
14
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
17
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
18
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 169.8-mile trip, leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Scranton with plenty of daylight. Given the relatively short 3-hour and 17-minute duration and only one recommended stop, you have considerable flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking on the 99.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. The total fuel cost is estimated at $28, so plan accordingly. This route is easily completed in a single day, so you can focus on enjoying the drive without feeling rushed.
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 84.9 miles from Philipsburg, PA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.9 miles or 1h 38m 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 38m
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 Philipsburg, 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 Philipsburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 169.8 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Philipsburg, 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 99.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.9 miles from Philipsburg, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.3 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 19.1 and 169.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
23.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
7
35.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
5
135 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m 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
169.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m 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
$28.15 one way
$56.30 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $30.83 | $61.66 |
| premium | $4.93 | $32.93 | $65.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.49 | $74.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.83 | $8.15 |
| Efficient EV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.86 | $6.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.9 | 0 | $23.77 | $10.87 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph
27% chance
Live forecast
60°F
Carroll, PA
85 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
30 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
3h 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The journey from Philipsburg to Scranton offers a turn-heavy local drive feel, despite its highway segments. You'll spend about 71% of your time on local roads and ramps, interspersed with stretches on major routes like the Keystone Shortway and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, providing a solid period of consistent travel. This combination means you'll experience varied driving conditions, from faster highway travel to more winding local roads as you make your way across Pennsylvania.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.1 miles in near I 99; US 220; US 322.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 169.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 19.1 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3h 17m. Total distance: 169.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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