This 212.1-mile journey from Ridgway, PA to the City of Scranton, PA will take approximately 4 hours and 12 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day trip, it traverses primarily through Pennsylvania's Northeast region. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $35. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to I-81 and then onto local roads like Boot Jack Road. This route offers a practical way to get from point A to point B within the state, with a manageable duration and a clear fuel budget to help you plan.
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
106 miles from Ridgway, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
148.6 mi
2h 40m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Hoovertown Road
5 mi
8m
Penfield Road
3.7 mi
6m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 148.6 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgway, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Long Alley
105 ft·10 sec·Long Alley
2
Turn left onto South Broad Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·South Broad Street
3
Turn right onto US 219; PA 948
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
5
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
6
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
7
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
9
Merge onto I 80
149 mi·2 hr 40 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
11
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
13
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 12-minute estimated duration, this route is best tackled in a single day. Aim to depart Ridgway in the morning to give yourself ample time for any unforeseen delays or the need for a brief stop, as only one is officially noted. The longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway spans 148.6 miles, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment, especially considering the $35 estimated fuel cost. Pay attention to road changes as you transition from highway to local roads closer to 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 106 miles from Ridgway, PA, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.6 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 47 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 2h 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 3h 25m
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 Ridgway, 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 Ridgway, PA
This is one driving day of about 212.1 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Ridgway, 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 148.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 211.9 — 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|South Broad Street
Turn left onto South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
11.9 mi into trip|~18m in|PA 153 / Penfield Road
Turn left onto PA 153 / Penfield Road
Navigation decision point
4
28.7 mi into trip|~47m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
177.6 mi into trip|~3h 29m 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
211.9 mi into trip|~4h 12m 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
$35.16 one way
$70.33 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$38.51
$77.02
premium
$4.93
$41.13
$82.27
diesel
$5.61
$46.83
$93.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.6
0
$22.27
$10.18
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.56
$8.48
EV Truck/SUV
84.8
1
$29.69
$13.57
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ridgway, PA
Morning
in Ridgway on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live 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
4h 12m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 212.1-mile trip. While about 15% of the route is on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 148.6 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of consistent travel. However, be prepared for the road to change as you progress, shifting from more open highway to a more involved local driving experience as you approach Scranton. This blend means you'll need to stay engaged behind the wheel.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.6 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 early in the drive near South Broad Street.
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 12m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles (PA 153 / Penfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,129 ft503 ft
Total Climb
2,617 ft
Total Descent
3,299 ft
Highest Point
2,129 ft
~15.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,626 ft
Notable High Points
1,776 ft at ~106 miles+898 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 212.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 148.6 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: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles (PA 153 / Penfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
