Scranton to Ambridge is 328.5 miles and takes about 6h 8m via Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the northeastern part of the state before heading west. Given the mostly surface road profile and a single recommended stop, expect a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate cruise. You'll likely encounter a mix of rural and small-town scenery as you make your way across the state. Plan for a single-day drive, though breaking it up is certainly an option if you prefer a more relaxed experience.
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
164.2 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.9 mi
4h 18m
I 79
37.3 mi
40m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Ohio River Boulevard
5.8 mi
7m
Freedom Crider Road
4.4 mi
6m
Freedom Road
2.5 mi
4m
Crows Run Road
1.5 mi
2m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.9 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,466
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Scranton, PA and Ambridge, PA.
1
Start on Wyoming Avenue
0.1 mi·38 sec·Wyoming Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·Lackawanna Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 3023
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cedar Avenue
4
Continue on Cedar Avenue
400 ft·12 sec·Cedar Avenue
5
Turn left onto River Street
0.9 mi·1 min·River Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
33 mi·39 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
9
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 79 South: Pittsburgh
11
Merge onto I 79
37 mi·40 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 78-77Toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania TurnpikeUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 78Toward US 19, PA 228: Cranberry, MarsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right
133 ft·5 sec
Toward Cranberry
15
Merge onto PA 228
0.2 mi·23 sec·Mars Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on Freedom Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Freedom Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Freedom Crider Road
18
Enter roundabout onto Freedom Crider Road
98 ft·1 sec·Freedom Crider Road
19
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.0 mi·2 min·Freedom Crider Road
20
Turn straight onto Crows Run Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Crows Run Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto PA 65
5.8 mi·7 min·Ohio River Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto PA 989
0.4 mi·52 sec·8th Street
23
Turn right onto Duss Avenue
99 ft·2 sec·Duss Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Duss Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, departing Scranton in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Ambridge before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can decide whether to push through or break up the drive with a longer lunch. The fuel cost is estimated at $55, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Scranton to minimize stops. Pay attention to the transition points between the Keystone Shortway, I-79, and the American Legion Memorial Highway to stay on track. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your preferences.
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 164.2 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.9 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 72 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.2 miles or 3h 3m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ambridge, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 328.5 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Scranton, 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 239.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 313.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Lackawanna Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
312.7 mi into trip|~5h 44m in
Take the exit toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 78-77
Toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike
9
313.3 mi into trip|~5h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 19, PA 228: Cranberry, Mars
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 78
Toward US 19, PA 228: Cranberry, Mars
6
313.7 mi into trip|~5h 46m in|PA 228 / Mars Road
Merge onto PA 228 / Mars Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.38 one way
$104.76 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$57.97
$115.93
premium
$4.81
$62.18
$124.36
diesel
$4.80
$62.03
$124.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.6
1
$34.49
$15.77
Efficient EV
82.1
0
$28.74
$13.14
EV Truck/SUV
131.4
1
$45.99
$21.02
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ambridge, PA
Night
in Ambridge on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Smoke
0 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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
6h 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only about 11% of the drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a major road is 239.9 miles, which is on the Keystone Shortway. After this significant portion, you'll transition to I-79, and then the American Legion Memorial Highway will also feature. Expect to navigate more local traffic and potentially more intersections once you leave the main highway sections.
Only 11% 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: 239.9 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 328.5 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 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 312.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,754 ft537 ft
Total Climb
1,618 ft
Total Descent
1,585 ft
Highest Point
1,754 ft
~187.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,217 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 328.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.9 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Ambridge, 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. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 312.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ambridge, PA before the return drive.
