Scranton to Fayetteville is 170.3 miles and takes about 3h 27m via American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Pennsylvania, beginning in the Northeast region and concluding in the same area. Expect a route that involves frequent turns, making it more of a local drive than a straightforward highway journey. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
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
85.1 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
162.9 mi
3h 13m
Black Gap Road
3.2 mi
5m
Coldspring Road
1.4 mi
3m
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
0.9 mi
1m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Lackawanna Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Wyoming Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 162.9 mi, about 3h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Fayetteville, 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
118 mi·2 hr 19 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 81
0.9 mi·1 min·George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
9
Continue on I 81
45 mi·53 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Scotland
11
Turn left onto PA 997
3.2 mi·5 min·Black Gap Road
12
Turn right onto Coldspring Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Coldspring Road
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Coldspring Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Coldspring Road
14
Turn left onto East Main Street
17 ft·0 sec·East Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 27m estimated drive time, departing Scranton in the morning will allow ample time to reach Fayetteville well before evening. Since this is a single-day trip covering 170.3 miles, you have flexibility with stops; however, plan for at least one break. Watch for the numerous turns indicated in the route profile, especially along American Legion Memorial Highway, Black Gap Road, and Coldspring Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing Scranton, as local roads can sometimes have fewer fueling opportunities than major highways.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.1 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.9 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 37 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.1 miles or 1h 42m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, 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 170.3 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 162.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 1.7 — 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
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|River Street
Turn left onto River Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.23 one way
$56.47 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$30.92
$61.84
premium
$4.93
$33.03
$66.05
diesel
$5.61
$37.60
$75.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.88
$8.17
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.90
$6.81
EV Truck/SUV
68.1
0
$23.84
$10.90
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fayetteville, PA
Late night
in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live 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
11 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
3h 27m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 135.1
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 93.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating local roads for the entire 170.3 miles. The American Legion Memorial Highway will be your primary companion for the longest stretch, a continuous 162.9 miles. Prepare for a driving experience that requires attention to navigation, as frequent turns will be a constant. Unlike interstate travel, this drive offers a more intimate connection with the landscape as you move through local environments.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.9 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 27m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.6 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 162.9 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.6 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Fayetteville, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
