Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 55m
Distance
253.6 mi
408 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Berlin, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 253.6 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip from Scranton to Berlin takes approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes of driving time. Because this is a straightforward trek within the Northeast region, it is perfectly manageable as a one-day excursion. You should budget roughly $42 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this route involves a blend of the Keystone Shortway, I-99, and the American Legion Memorial Highway. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the route offers a balanced pace that avoids the need for an overnight stay. Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions smoothly between different types of roadway infrastructure.
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
126.8 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 98.5 mi | 1h 47m |
| I 99 | 61.7 mi | 1h 6m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 32.7 mi | 39m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 26.9 mi | 31m |
| Jacksonville Road | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| Brotherton Road | 4.4 mi | 10m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Berlin, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
Turn right
Turn left onto Brotherton Road
Turn right onto PA 31
Turn left onto Brotherton Road
Turn left onto Berlin Plank Road
Continue on Broadway Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a roughly five-hour drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the journey and maintain your focus. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion and ensure you arrive in Berlin with plenty of daylight. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 98.5-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as service opportunities may be spaced out. Given the $42 fuel estimate, filling up before you leave Scranton will help you maintain a consistent budget for the trip. Use the flexibility of this one-day itinerary to adjust your pace based on real-time traffic conditions along the American Legion Memorial Highway.
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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.8 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Berlin, 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 253.6 miles and 4h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 126.8 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 221.1 — 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 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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West, I 70 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$42.04 one way
$84.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $46.05 | $92.09 |
| premium | $4.93 | $49.18 | $98.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.99 | $111.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.49
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
$42
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.63 | $12.17 |
| Efficient EV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.19 | $10.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.4 | 1 | $35.50 | $16.23 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Berlin on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
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.
Expect a varied driving experience as you transition across 35% highway terrain. The journey is defined by a mixed profile, shifting between faster-paced stretches and more deliberate segments. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Keystone Shortway, which features the route's longest uninterrupted leg at 98.5 miles. This provides a steady rhythm before the road character evolves as you merge onto I-99 and the American Legion Memorial Highway. Because the road conditions fluctuate, you should stay alert to the changing flow of traffic as you move through these different highway systems.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 253.6 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 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,188 ft
Total Descent
1,619 ft
Highest Point
2,316 ft
~253.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,706 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scranton, PA and Berlin, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Patp: Pittsburgh.
Altoona
Pittsburgh
Harrisburg
Patp: Pittsburgh
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 4h 55m. Total distance: 253.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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