Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
124.6 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aldan, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Scranton, PA to Aldan, PA is 124.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward journey for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused nature, it's well-suited for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major expressways, making it a practical choice for moving between these two points with minimal fuss. Plan for a quick transit with most of your time spent on the road.
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
62.3 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 95 mi | 1h 44m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| West Springfield Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Lawrence Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Sproul Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Springfield Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Aldan, PA.
Start on Wyoming Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
Turn right onto CR 3023
Continue on Cedar Avenue
Turn left onto River Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Continue on PA 315
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476; PATP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 3
Turn right onto Lawrence Road
At end of road, turn left onto PA 320
Keep slight left at fork onto West Springfield Road
Continue on North Springfield Road
Turn right onto North Clifton Avenue
Turn right onto West Providence Road
Turn left onto South Woodlawn Avenue
Arrive at destination
With a drive time of just over 2.5 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic, especially as you approach the Aldan area. The longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension means you can cover significant distance without needing to stop frequently for gas, but it's wise to fill up before you begin. You'll want to be mindful of tolls on the turnpike system. Given the straightforward nature of the route, a single planned stop for a quick break should suffice.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.3 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aldan, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Scranton, 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 Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 124.6 miles and 2h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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.
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 62.3 miles from Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 117.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Take the exit toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$20.66 one way
$41.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $22.62 | $45.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $24.16 | $48.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.51 | $55.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $12.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.08 | $5.98 |
| Efficient EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.90 | $4.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.44 | $7.97 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
8:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Evening in Aldan on Sunday
Local time
8:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 85% of your travel on major roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and the Mid-County Expressway. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including one continuous segment of 95 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The character of the drive is largely about efficient transit, rather than winding scenic byways. While some sections may offer glimpses of the surrounding landscape, the primary feel is one of covering distance on well-maintained expressways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
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 124.6 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 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scranton, PA and Aldan, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Allentown and Broomall.
Patp
Allentown
Broomall
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.
Founded 1893
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 124.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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