Origin
Rochester, PA
Late night in Rochester on Wednesday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester, PA to Scranton, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 3m
Distance
317.2 mi
510 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 51m
★
6 AM
6h 4m
8 AM
6h 29m
10 AM
6h 13m
12 PM
6h 10m
3 PM
6h 14m
5 PM
6h 28m
8 PM
5h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, PA
Michael Taccetta
Scranton, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rochester, PA to Scranton, PA is 317.2 miles and takes about 6h 3m via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region to itself. You'll encounter a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving on this fairly direct path. With a recommended one-day drive time, this route is a straightforward option for getting across the state.
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
158.6 miles from Rochester, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m 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 |
| Deer Lane | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| West Beaver Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Perry Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical · worst 1,496
Quietest
2 AM
~190 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Rochester, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 18
31 ft
·
8 sec
·
Brighton Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto PA 68
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
Virginia Avenue
4
Turn right onto Deer Lane
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Deer Lane
5
Continue on PA 68
6.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Route 68
6
Continue on PA 68
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Beaver Street
7
Turn left onto US 19; PA 68
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 19
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Perry Highway
9
Turn right onto Little Creek Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Little Creek Road
10
Enter roundabout onto Little Creek Road
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
Little Creek Road
11
Continue on Little Creek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Little Creek Road
12
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Merge onto I 79
28 mi
·
29 min
·
I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
15
Merge onto I 80
240 mi
·
4 hr 18 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
17
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
19
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
22
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
23
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop when needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move away from the highway sections, as services might be more spread out. The longest stretch without a major highway is substantial, so plan your breaks accordingly. You'll want to be mindful of the 21% highway share, which means more time will be spent on local roads.
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 158.6 miles from Rochester, PA, or about 3h 5m 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.6 miles or 3h 5m 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 54m
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 Rochester, 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 Rochester, PA
This is one driving day of about 317.2 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Rochester, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.6 miles from Rochester, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 239.8 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 and 316.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Jefferson Street
Turn sharp right onto Jefferson Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
11.2 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
12.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Little Creek Road
Enter roundabout onto Little Creek Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
316.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 2m 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
$53.00 one way
$106.00 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $58.33 | $116.66 |
| premium | $5.01 | $62.59 | $125.18 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $69.92 | $139.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.2 | 1 | $33.31 | $15.23 |
| Efficient EV | 79.3 | 0 | $27.76 | $12.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.9 | 1 | $44.41 | $20.30 |
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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night in Scranton on Wednesday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
4 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 3m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 21% of the total mileage on highways. You'll experience 239.8 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a more rural feel with less frequent exits once you leave the main highway stretches. The drive involves navigating through towns and local traffic for a significant portion.
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 Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 317.2 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 (Jefferson Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles (US 19; PA 68 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles (Little Creek Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,873 ft
648 ft
Total Climb
1,493 ft
Total Descent
1,225 ft
Highest Point
1,873 ft
~135.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,225 ft
Notable High Points
1,873 ft at ~135.9 miles
+653 ft prominence
About the Cities
Arriving in Scranton, PA
Full guide →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.
Top landmarks
- • St. Peter's Cathedral — historic church in Pennsylvania, United States
- • Steamtown National Historic Site — railroad museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania
- • Albright Memorial Building — library in Scranton, 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 6h 3m. Total distance: 317.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m 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.
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 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 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles (US 19; PA 68 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles (Little Creek Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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