Scranton to Fullerton is 75.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick trip or as part of a larger travel plan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.6 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Exit 56Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
16
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 22 East: Allentown
17
Merge onto US 22
5.6 mi·7 min·Lehigh Valley Thruway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Fullerton AvenueUse the slight right lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto Fullerton Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·Fullerton Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Park Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Park Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto 6th Street
205 ft·8 sec·6th Street
22
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is only about 1.5 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will get you to Fullerton with plenty of the day left. Given the short duration, you might not need many stops, but there are opportunities to pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is only $12, and it's always good to top off before starting a drive. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is a toll road, so be prepared for that.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.6 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.6 miles or 45m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fullerton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 75.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Scranton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 57 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 74.9 — 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
8
10.5 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
6
10.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
7
74.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|Fullerton Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Fullerton Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|Park Street
Turn left onto Park Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.28 one way
$26.56 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$14.55
$29.09
premium
$5.24
$15.50
$31.01
diesel
$5.35
$15.82
$31.64
Estimated Tolls: $7.80
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(57 mi)$7.41
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(5.6 mi)$0.39
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
$13
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.5
0
$7.89
$3.60
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.57
$3.00
EV Truck/SUV
30
0
$10.51
$4.81
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in Scranton on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
N 1 to 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fullerton, PA
Afternoon
in Fullerton on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
N 0 to 5 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
1h 31m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 75.1 miles on major roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. You'll experience a longest stretch of 57 miles on the Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a consistent cruising pace for the majority of your trip, with a higher concentration of exits as you approach the Lehigh Valley.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and American Legion Memorial Highway. 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,797 ft370 ft
Total Climb
1,620 ft
Total Descent
1,996 ft
Highest Point
1,797 ft
~21.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,426 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scranton, PA and Fullerton, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Allentown and Harrisburg.
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 1h 31m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.80 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Fullerton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fullerton, PA before heading back.
