Pulaski, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is 316.6 miles and takes about 6 hours and 1 minute via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, primarily utilizing surface roads for most of the journey. Expect a more local driving experience rather than a pure interstate cruise, which can be a nice change of pace if you have the time. With only one recommended stop and a mostly surface road profile, it's a straightforward one-day trip.
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
158.3 miles from Pulaski, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.8 mi
4h 18m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
I 79
27.9 mi
29m
Route 68
6.2 mi
11m
Sunflower Road
2.1 mi
3m
West Beaver Street
1.2 mi
2m
Perry Highway
1.1 mi
2m
Marion Hill Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,466
Quietest
2 AM
~186 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 Pulaski, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on 37th Street
98 ft·6 sec·37th Street
2
Turn right onto 39th Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·39th Avenue
3
Turn slight left onto 40th Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·40th Street
4
Turn right onto 41st Avenue
438 ft·24 sec·41st Avenue
5
Turn left onto 44th Street
338 ft·6 sec·44th Street
6
Continue on Marion Hill Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Marion Hill Road
7
Turn left onto PA 68
2.1 mi·3 min·Sunflower Road
8
Turn left onto PA 68
6.2 mi·11 min·Route 68
9
Continue on PA 68
1.2 mi·2 min·West Beaver Street
10
Turn left onto US 19; PA 68
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 19
1.1 mi·2 min·Perry Highway
12
Turn right onto Little Creek Road
0.2 mi·17 sec·Little Creek Road
13
Enter roundabout onto Little Creek Road
120 ft·2 sec·Little Creek Road
14
Continue on Little Creek Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Little Creek Road
15
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Use the left lane.
16
Merge onto I 79
28 mi·29 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
18
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
20
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
22
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample daylight for the 6-hour drive. Since this is a single-day trip and mostly surface roads, you have flexibility in your pacing. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you transition from highway driving to more rural surface roads where gas stations might be less frequent. The fuel cost estimate is around $52, so budget accordingly and fill up when you see good prices.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.3 miles from Pulaski, PA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.8 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 70 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.3 miles or 3h 4m 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 53m
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 Pulaski, 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 Pulaski, PA
This is one driving day of about 316.6 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Pulaski, 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 239.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 316.4 — 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|39th Avenue
Turn right onto 39th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
11 mi into trip|~21m in|US 19; PA 68 / South Main Street
Turn left onto US 19; PA 68 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
12.8 mi into trip|~25m in|Little Creek Road
Enter roundabout onto Little Creek Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
13.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
316.4 mi into trip|~6h 1m 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
$50.48 one way
$100.96 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$55.87
$111.73
premium
$4.81
$59.93
$119.86
diesel
$4.80
$59.78
$119.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95
1
$33.24
$15.20
Efficient EV
79.2
0
$27.70
$12.66
EV Truck/SUV
126.6
1
$44.32
$20.26
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Pulaski, PA
Late night
in Pulaski on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Smoke
NW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Late night
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 drive is mostly surface roads, with highways making up 21% of the total mileage. You'll experience a substantial stretch of 239.8 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a more rural cruising feel for the majority of your drive, with fewer high-speed sections and more opportunities to notice local scenery. The highway portion will offer faster travel, but be prepared for more frequent intersections and varying speed limits once you leave the main interstates.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.8 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 39th Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 316.6 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: near the start (39th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (US 19; PA 68 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (Little Creek Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,895 ft529 ft
Total Climb
2,136 ft
Total Descent
2,471 ft
Highest Point
1,895 ft
~135.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,366 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 316.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.8 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at City of 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. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (39th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (US 19; PA 68 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (Little Creek Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 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.
