This 229.7-mile journey from Riverside to the City of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes. The drive primarily utilizes the Keystone Shortway and I-99 before merging onto I-81, with 43% of the route being highway. Given the relatively short duration, you'll likely find it manageable without an overnight stay, though flexibility is key. Expect a fuel cost of around $38 for this trip. Both your origin and destination are within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a consistent regional feel throughout your travel.
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
114.9 miles from Riverside, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
William Penn Highway
10.2 mi
11m
Portage Street
9.5 mi
13m
PA 56
8.8 mi
11m
Eisenhower Boulevard
4.6 mi
9m
Railroad 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 Riverside, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Southview Avenue
58 ft·9 sec·Southview Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto Eisenhower Boulevard
4.6 mi·9 min·Eisenhower Boulevard
3
Turn left onto PA 56
0.2 mi·20 sec·Scalp Avenue
4
Take the ramp onto PA 56
8.8 mi·11 min·PA 56
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
6
Turn right onto Railroad Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
7
Continue on PA 53
9.5 mi·13 min·Portage Street
8
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi·14 sec·Cleveland Street
9
Turn right onto PA 53
510 ft·9 sec·Main Street
10
Turn slight left onto PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·Evergreen Street
11
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 East: AltoonaUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto US 22
10 mi·11 min·William Penn Highway
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
16
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
17
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.
18
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
19
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
20
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
21
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
22
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
24
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
25
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this roughly 4.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and potentially avoid traffic. You'll have one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 99.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. With a total duration under 5 hours, you have the flexibility to adjust your timing as needed, making it a convenient day trip.
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 114.9 miles from Riverside, PA, or about 2h 21m 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 51 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.9 miles or 2h 21m 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 41m
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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, PA
This is one driving day of about 229.7 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Riverside, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.6 and 229.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
37.6 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
6
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 41m 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
83.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
95.7 mi into trip|~2h 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
7
229.5 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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
$38.08 one way
$76.16 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$41.71
$83.42
premium
$4.93
$44.55
$89.09
diesel
$5.61
$50.71
$101.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.9
0
$24.12
$11.03
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.10
$9.19
EV Truck/SUV
91.9
1
$32.16
$14.70
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Riverside, PA
Afternoon
in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
12:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:39 PM
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
12 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 32m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll experience a mixed drive on this route, blending faster highway sections with other road types. With 43% of the drive on highways, expect periods of consistent speed, particularly during the longest stretch of 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway. This portion likely offers a more open road feel. As you transition to I-99 and then I-81, the character of the drive will evolve, potentially offering different driving dynamics as you approach your destination in Scranton.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 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?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 229.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 37.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.4 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,819 ft521 ft
Total Climb
2,410 ft
Total Descent
2,898 ft
Highest Point
1,819 ft
~32.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,298 ft
Notable High Points
1,496 ft at ~196.9 miles+615 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Riverside, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
37.1 mi in|~54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 229.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.4 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
