Origin
Salem, PA
Morning in Salem on Tuesday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 30m
Distance
171.8 mi
276 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 18m
★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, PA
Haneul Trac
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
Salem, PA to Scranton, PA is 171.8 miles and takes about 3h 30m via American Legion Memorial Highway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, traversing Pennsylvania entirely. Expect a mix of highway cruising and more local road driving. Given its manageable length and single day recommendation, this route is ideal for a straightforward transfer between these two points, offering a practical way to cover the distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.9 miles from Salem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 117.9 mi | 2h 19m |
| I 81 | 44.2 mi | 53m |
| Black Gap Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Philadelphia Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Salem Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Cumberland Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| George N. Wade Memorial Bridge | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 117.9 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Salem Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Salem Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 11
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Philadelphia Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto PA 997
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 997
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Black Gap Road
5
Turn left onto PA 696
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Olde Scotland Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
44 mi
·
53 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
11
Merge onto I 81
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 81
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
115 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 171.8-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential midday traffic, especially as you near Scranton. With a total duration of about 3 hours and 30 minutes, you won't need to split this into overnight segments. There's one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break around the halfway point or where you transition from the American Legion Memorial Highway to I 81 to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $28, and gas stations might be less frequent on the American Legion Memorial Highway.
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 85.9 miles from Salem, PA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.9 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 38 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.9 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
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 Salem, 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 Salem, PA
This is one driving day of about 171.8 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Salem, 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 117.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.9 miles from Salem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before American Legion Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117.9 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 171.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 11 / Philadelphia Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 11 / Philadelphia Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
PA 997 / Cumberland Highway
Turn right onto PA 997 / Cumberland Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
51.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
6
56 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
171.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m 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
$28.48 one way
$56.96 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $31.19 | $62.39 |
| premium | $4.93 | $33.32 | $66.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.93 | $75.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.04 | $8.25 |
| Efficient EV | 43 | 0 | $15.03 | $6.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.05 | $11.00 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning in City of Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 26% highway use, with the bulk of your time spent on surface roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 117.9 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway before transitioning to I 81. Be prepared for a noticeable shift from rural cruising to more frequent exits and potential merging traffic as you approach Scranton.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.9 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near US 11 / Philadelphia Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 171.8 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 1.5 miles (US 11 / Philadelphia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (PA 997 / Cumberland Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Salem, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Marysville along the way.
Marysville
50.9 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 171.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.9 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. 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 1.5 miles (US 11 / Philadelphia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (PA 997 / Cumberland Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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