Punxsutawney, PA to Scranton, PA is 216.5 miles and takes about 4h 6m via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a turn-heavy local drive experience. With only one recommended stop and the longest stretch covering 158.5 miles, it's a manageable one-day journey. Consider this route if you prefer a more direct path with fewer major highway sections.
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
108.3 miles from Punxsutawney, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
158.5 mi
2h 51m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Ridge Avenue
13.4 mi
16m
Blinker Parkway
2.8 mi
3m
US 219
2.7 mi
3m
East DuBois Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Bee Line Highway
1.1 mi
1m
Sykes Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 158.5 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Punxsutawney, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on US 119; PA 36
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Mahoning Street
2
Turn left onto US 119
0.2 mi·14 sec·Hampton Avenue
3
Continue on US 119
13 mi·16 min·Ridge Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 119
1.0 mi·1 min·Sykes Street
5
Continue on US 119
2.8 mi·3 min·Blinker Parkway
6
Continue on US 119
523 ft·11 sec·Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
7
Turn left onto US 219
2.7 mi·3 min·US 219
8
At end of road, turn right onto PA 255
1.4 mi·2 min·East DuBois Avenue
9
Continue on PA 255
1.1 mi·1 min·Bee Line Highway
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
11
Merge onto I 80
159 mi·2 hr 51 min·Keystone Shortway
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
13
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
15
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
18
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
19
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time and the "turn-heavy local drive" profile, starting your journey from Punxsutawney in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. While only one stop is officially recommended, feel free to take breaks as needed, especially since the longest stretch is over 150 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $36 estimated cost suggests a mix of road types where fuel efficiency might vary. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for the transition off the Keystone Shortway, as this is where the character of the drive shifts significantly towards more local roads as you approach Scranton.
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 108.3 miles from Punxsutawney, PA, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.5 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.3 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
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 Punxsutawney, 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 Punxsutawney, PA
This is one driving day of about 216.5 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Punxsutawney, 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 158.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 216.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 119 / Hampton Avenue
Turn left onto US 119 / Hampton Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 22m 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
215.9 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
216.3 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
216.5 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.89 one way
$71.79 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.31
$78.62
premium
$4.93
$41.99
$83.97
diesel
$5.61
$47.80
$95.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65
0
$22.73
$10.39
Efficient EV
54.1
0
$18.94
$8.66
EV Truck/SUV
86.6
1
$30.31
$13.86
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Punxsutawney, PA
Morning
in Punxsutawney on Sunday
Local time
10:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
10:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 5 to 8 mph20% 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
8 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
4h 6m 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 drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local experience, with only 18% of the route on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on local roads, including Ridge Avenue, which contributes to the 4-hour duration despite the 216.5-mile distance. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 158.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to more varied road conditions. Expect a driving personality that requires attention due to frequent turns and changes in road type.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 0.2 miles in near US 119 / Hampton Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 6m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 119 / Hampton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 181.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 215.9 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 158.5 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.
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: at 0.2 miles (US 119 / Hampton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 181.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 215.9 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
