This 221.8-mile journey from Salix, Pennsylvania, to the City of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 20 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via the Keystone Shortway, I-99, and I-81, offering a mixed driving experience. With a projected fuel cost of $37, this route is budget-friendly for a single day's adventure. The drive stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward cross-state exploration without significant regional shifts. This route is well-suited for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
110.9 miles from Salix, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m 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
WPA Road
2.3 mi
4m
US 219
1.8 mi
1m
Locust Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Salix, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 160
0.2 mi·18 sec·Forest Hills Drive
2
Turn slight left onto WPA Road
2.3 mi·4 min·WPA Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto PA 869
1.1 mi·2 min·Locust Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
5
Merge onto US 219
1.8 mi·1 min·US 219
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
7
Turn right onto Railroad Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
8
Continue on PA 53
9.5 mi·13 min·Portage Street
9
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi·14 sec·Cleveland Street
10
Turn right onto PA 53
510 ft·9 sec·Main Street
11
Turn slight left onto PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·Evergreen Street
12
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 East: AltoonaUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto US 22
10 mi·11 min·William Penn Highway
15
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
17
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
18
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.
19
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
20
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
21
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
23
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
25
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 20-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Salix to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing; perhaps plan it around the halfway point or as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway. The $37 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to have a bit of buffer. Since this is a feasible day trip, you can depart and arrive on the same day, making it a convenient option.
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 110.9 miles from Salix, PA, or about 2h 13m 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 49 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.9 miles or 2h 13m 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 30m
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 Salix, 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 Salix, PA
This is one driving day of about 221.8 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Salix, 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.6 and 221.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
29.6 mi into trip|~42m 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
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
221.6 mi into trip|~4h 20m 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
$35.37 one way
$70.73 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$39.14
$78.28
premium
$4.81
$41.98
$83.97
diesel
$4.80
$41.88
$83.76
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: 77.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.5
0
$23.29
$10.65
Efficient EV
55.5
0
$19.41
$8.87
EV Truck/SUV
88.7
1
$31.05
$14.20
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Salix, PA
Afternoon
in Salix on Sunday
Local time
3:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 14 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:29PM EDT until July 18 at 5:15PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:27PM EDT until July 18 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 13 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:29PM EDT until July 18 at 5:15PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:27PM EDT until July 18 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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 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 20m 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?
The drive features a 41% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced travel and potentially more varied road conditions. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. This route is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a dynamic experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. As you progress, expect the road character to shift, providing different driving sensations throughout the 221.8 miles.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 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 29.6 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 19 significant decision points across 221.8 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 29.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.5 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.4 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,051 ft564 ft
Total Climb
1,434 ft
Total Descent
2,746 ft
Highest Point
2,051 ft
Elevation Range
1,486 ft
Notable High Points
1,485 ft at ~190.1 miles+568 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 Salix, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 221.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m 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 29.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.5 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.4 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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Scranton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
