Origin
Pittston, PA
Morning in Pittston on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pittston, PA to Harrisburg, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
113.6 mi
183 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittston, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pittston to Harrisburg is 113.6 miles and takes about 2h 21m via I 81, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It’s a straightforward highway journey, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Given the relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Pittston, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 107.1 mi | 2h 6m |
| North Cameron Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Oak Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| William Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Township Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Herr Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 322 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 107.1 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittston, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on North Main Street
81 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto Mill Street
187 ft
·
10 sec
·
Mill Street
3
Turn right onto Butler Alley
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Butler Alley
4
Turn right onto Butler Street
169 ft
·
8 sec
·
Butler Street
5
Turn right onto US 11
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Main Street
6
Turn sharp left onto US 11
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Kennedy Boulevard
7
Turn left onto US 11
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
William Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn sharp right onto South Township Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Township Boulevard
9
Turn left onto Oak Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto PA 315
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
PA 315
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 81 South: Hazleton
12
Merge onto I 81
107 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 322
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67A
Toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto US 22
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Cameron Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto Herr Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Herr Street
17
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North 7th Street
18
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2h 21m drive, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning means you'll arrive with ample daylight. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch on I 81 is over 100 miles, and it's wise to fill up before heading out or during an early stop. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your breaks as needed along I 81.
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 56.8 miles from Pittston, PA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.1 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 11m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pittston, 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 Pittston, PA
This is one driving day of about 113.6 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Pittston, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 107.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.8 miles from Pittston, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.1 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 110.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Butler Alley
Turn right onto Butler Alley
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 11 / William Street
Turn left onto US 11 / William Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
110.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
110.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 67A
Toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.83 one way
$37.67 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $20.63 | $41.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $22.03 | $44.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.08 | $50.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.93 | $5.45 |
| Efficient EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.94 | $4.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.90 | $7.27 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Harrisburg, PA
Morning in Harrisburg on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Shenandoah, PA
57 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
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
2h 21m 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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 90.1
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 113.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 95% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 81, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch at 107.1 miles. This means consistent speed and minimal slowdowns. As you approach Harrisburg, you'll transition from I 81 onto local roads like North Cameron Street and Oak Street for the final approach.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.1 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and North Cameron Street. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Butler Alley.
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 113.6 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (Butler Alley): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 11 / William Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Oak Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Harrisburg, PA
Full guide →Founded 1719
Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
Top landmarks
- • Pennsylvania State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
- • Cathedral of Saint Patrick — cathedral of the Catholic Church in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United St...
- • Harrisburg Transportation Center — intermodal station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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 2h 21m. Total distance: 113.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.1 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Harrisburg, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Butler Alley): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 11 / William Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Oak Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Harrisburg, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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