Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
82.8 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, PA
Dominik Gryzbon
This 82.8-mile drive from Scranton to Auburn, Pennsylvania, is a manageable 1 hour and 42 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. The route takes you through familiar Northeast territory within PA, with about 40% of the journey utilizing highway sections. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this is an economical option for a short getaway. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a local, engaging experience rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Consider this route if you're looking for a relatively quick and affordable excursion within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 59.7 mi | 1h 10m |
| Center Avenue | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Skyline Drive | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| Market Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North Claude A. Lord Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Joseph H. Long Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Pottsville Saint Clair Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Auburn, 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
Turn straight onto PA 61
Turn uturn onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 895
Arrive at destination
Given the short 1 hour and 42-minute duration and 82.8-mile length, this trip offers great flexibility. You can easily depart Scranton anytime and arrive in Auburn with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost of around $14, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling stops. However, since the route is described as 'turn-heavy,' pay close attention to navigation, especially as you transition between the American Legion Memorial Highway, Center Avenue, and Skyline Drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is nearly 60 miles, so plan your final navigation checks before entering that segment.
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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 50m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Scranton, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 82.8 miles and 1h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 41.4 miles from Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 80.2 — 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
Turn right onto CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Frackville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn uturn onto PA 61 / Skyline Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$13.73 one way
$27.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $15.03 | $30.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.06 | $32.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.28 | $36.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.59 | $5.30 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Late night in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
49°F
Shenandoah, PA
41 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
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.
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a 'turn-heavy' local drive for much of this 82.8-mile journey between Scranton and Auburn. While 40% of the route involves highway driving, the overall feel is more akin to navigating local roads with numerous changes in direction. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 59.7 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before you're back to navigating turns. This driving profile means you'll likely be adjusting your speed and direction frequently, keeping you engaged behind the wheel.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 42m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 61.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 82.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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