Origin
Scranton, PA
Late night in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
179.9 mi
290 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellwood, PA
Thu Huynh
Scranton to Bellwood is 180 miles and takes about 3.5 hours via the Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region from Scranton to Bellwood. Expect a route with frequent turns, making it more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit. With a recommended one-day drive time, this trip is well-suited for a leisurely pace, allowing you to appreciate the journey without feeling rushed. The overall travel experience leans towards engaging with the local roads.
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
90 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 98.5 mi | 1h 47m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 32.7 mi | 39m |
| Jacksonville Road | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| I 99 | 20.5 mi | 21m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bellwood Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Skelp Mountain Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Bellwood, 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
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 865
Continue on PA 865
Continue on PA 865
Turn right onto East 5th Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short 3.5-hour duration, you have the flexibility to depart Scranton anytime that suits you. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the midpoint of your 180-mile journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $30, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before setting off. Pay close attention to road signs, especially as you transition between the main roads and Jacksonville Road, to avoid missing any turns on this less highway-centric route.
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.
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 40 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellwood, 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 179.9 miles and 3h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 90 miles from Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.5 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 158.1 — 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
Turn right onto CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$29.83 one way
$59.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $32.67 | $65.33 |
| premium | $4.93 | $34.89 | $69.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.72 | $79.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54 | 0 | $18.89 | $8.64 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.74 | $7.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72 | 0 | $25.19 | $11.51 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Bellwood on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
60°F
Carroll, PA
90 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route features a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, with only 11% of the journey on highways. You'll primarily navigate on roads like the Keystone Shortway and the American Legion Memorial Highway, interspersed with local stretches such as Jacksonville Road. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 98.5 miles along the Keystone Shortway. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires constant attention due to the frequent changes in direction and road type.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
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 179.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 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 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Scranton, PA to Bellwood, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Altoona along the way.
Altoona
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 3h 26m. Total distance: 179.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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