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Trip from Saxonburg, PA to Scranton, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 31m

Distance

278.6 mi

448 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 18m ★
6 AM
5h 32m
8 AM
5h 58m
10 AM
5h 41m
12 PM
5h 38m
3 PM
5h 42m
5 PM
5h 57m
8 PM
5h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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borough in Pennsylvania, USA

Saxonburg, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 278.7-mile drive from Saxonburg, PA, to Scranton, PA, is estimated to take about 4 hours and 45 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. With a fuel cost of approximately $46, it's an economical option for exploring Pennsylvania. The route primarily uses local roads, with no highway driving, suggesting a more intimate journey through the state. Given its duration and the nature of the roads, it’s best tackled in a single day, allowing you to arrive in Scranton without needing an overnight stop. This trip offers a straightforward way to connect two points within the Northeast region.

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

139.3 miles from Saxonburg, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 180.6 mi 3h 15m
PA 28 36.7 mi 54m
I 81 32.4 mi 39m
Allegheny Valley Expressway 11.4 mi 13m
US 422 5.1 mi 6m
South Pike Road 3.3 mi 5m
Ekastown Road 1.7 mi 2m
Sarver Road 1.3 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 180.6 mi, about 3h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saxonburg, PA and Scranton, PA.

1

Start on Water Street

27 ft · 2 sec · Water Street
2

Turn right onto North Rebecca Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Rebecca Street
3

Continue on Freeport Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Freeport Street
4

At end of road, turn left onto PA 228

1.7 mi · 2 min · Ekastown Road
5

Turn left onto PA 228

1.3 mi · 2 min · Sarver Road
6

At end of road, turn right onto PA 356

3.3 mi · 5 min · South Pike Road
7

Continue on PA 356

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Butler Road
8

Turn left

0.4 mi · 51 sec
9

Merge onto PA 28

11 mi · 13 min · Allegheny Valley Expressway
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 52 sec
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
11

Merge onto US 422; PA 28

5.1 mi · 6 min · US 422; PA 28
12

Continue on PA 28; PA 66

37 mi · 54 min · PA 28; PA 66
13

Take the ramp onto PA 28 Truck

0.4 mi · 46 sec · PA 28 Truck
14

Merge onto I 80; PA 28 Truck

181 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Keystone Shortway
15

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
16

Merge onto I 81

32 mi · 39 min · I 81
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward PA 307
18

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street
19

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Continue on Adams Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Adams Avenue
21

Turn left onto Biden Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Biden Street
22

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

135 ft · 4 sec · Wyoming Avenue
23

Arrive at destination

Wyoming Avenue

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 4-hour and 45-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Saxonburg to avoid potential traffic and maximize daylight. Since this is a local road-heavy route with a 0% highway share, be prepared for frequent turns and varying speed limits, so plan for the single stop to be a brief refueling or stretch break. The estimated fuel cost is $46, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Saxonburg. The turn-heavy nature means staying attentive to GPS or navigation is key to reaching Scranton smoothly.

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 139.3 miles from Saxonburg, PA, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 61 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139.3 miles or 2h 53m 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 30m

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 Saxonburg, 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 Saxonburg, PA

This is one driving day of about 278.6 miles and 5h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Saxonburg, 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 180.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

borough of Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Clearfield, PA

139 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

Punxsutawney, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Central City, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.3 miles from Saxonburg, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 180.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Kelley's Family Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Saxonburg, Pennsylvania

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+17243524990

Visit website

Kelley's Family Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Saxonburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+17243524990

Visit website

Falsetti's Villa Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 19.9

Kittanning, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+17247632266

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 278.6

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: 12–8 am

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 278.6

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 79.6

Falls Creek, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 278.6

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 278.6

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 238.8

Drums, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 218.9

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 218.9

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 20.3 and 278.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
20.3 mi into trip | ~29m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, In...
5
243.7 mi into trip | ~4h 46m 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
278 mi into trip | ~5h 30m in | Cedar Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
278.4 mi into trip | ~5h 31m in | Biden Street

Turn left onto Biden Street

Navigation decision point

5
278.5 mi into trip | ~5h 31m in | Wyoming Avenue

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.19 one way

$92.38 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $50.59 $101.17
premium $4.93 $54.03 $108.06
diesel $5.61 $61.51 $123.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.6 1 $29.25 $13.37
Efficient EV 69.7 0 $24.38 $11.14
EV Truck/SUV 111.4 1 $39.00 $17.83

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Saxonburg, PA

Late night in Saxonburg on Sunday

Local time

5:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scranton, PA

Late night in Scranton on Sunday

Local time

5:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Clearfield, PA

139 mi in

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

3 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

5h 31m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 278.7-mile journey, as the highway share is 0%. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including North Rebecca Street, Freeport Street, and Ekastown Road, rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. The absence of long highway stretches indicates a more engaging driving experience where you'll be more frequently adjusting speed and direction. This type of route often allows for a closer look at the communities you pass through.

31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in.

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 278.6 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: at 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 243.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 278 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

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 Saxonburg, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.

Indiana

20.3 mi in | ~29m

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.

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 5h 31m. Total distance: 278.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 180.6 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.

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 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 243.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 278 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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