Spanning 175.6 miles through the Northeast corner of Pennsylvania, this trip from Scranton to Guilford Siding takes approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes of drive time. Because the route is entirely local, you should plan for a full day of travel rather than a quick interstate sprint. Budgeting around $29 for fuel will cover your transit across the region. Since the journey is manageable within a single day, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a straightforward trip that stays within the state, offering a consistent experience as you transition between these two points.
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
87.8 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
168.6 mi
3h 19m
Wayne Road
1.9 mi
3m
Guilford Station Road
1.3 mi
4m
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
0.9 mi
1m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
New Franklin Road
0.6 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Wayne Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 168.6 mi, about 3h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Guilford Siding, 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
51 mi·1 hr·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Wayne Ave
11
Turn left onto PA 316
0.3 mi·32 sec·Wayne Avenue
12
Continue on PA 316
1.9 mi·3 min·Wayne Road
13
Turn left onto New Franklin Road
0.6 mi·1 min·New Franklin Road
14
Turn right onto Guilford Station Road
1.3 mi·4 min·Guilford Station Road
15
Turn sharp right onto Church Road
91 ft·4 sec·Church Road
16
Arrive at destination
Church Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour and 35-minute journey on local roads, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid the build-up of local traffic that can slow down your progress. You only have one planned stop on this 175.6-mile trek, so choose your break point wisely to maintain your momentum. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can lead to unpredictable consumption compared to steady highway cruising. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, ensure your vehicle is well-prepped for frequent gear shifts and braking. A great tip for this specific drive is to double-check your navigation before leaving, as relying on local streets requires more frequent turns than a simple interstate 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 87.8 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.6 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford Siding, 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 175.6 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 168.6 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 175.6 — 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
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.
5
171.5 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|PA 316 / Wayne Avenue
Turn left onto PA 316 / Wayne Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
175.6 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|Church Road
Turn sharp right onto Church Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.11 one way
$58.22 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$31.88
$63.77
premium
$4.93
$34.06
$68.11
diesel
$5.61
$38.77
$77.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
EV Truck/SUV
70.2
0
$24.58
$11.24
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
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
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Guilford Siding, PA
Late night
in Guilford Siding on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Harrisburg, PA
88 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, as this route features a zero-percent highway share. You will navigate via Lackawanna Avenue, Cedar Avenue, and River Street, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. Because you are avoiding major highways, the road surface and traffic patterns will reflect the character of the local thoroughfares you traverse. This is a technical, winding drive that prioritizes backroads over efficiency, so be prepared for constant steering inputs and varying speed zones. The lack of long, straight stretches makes for a more engaged, albeit slower, driving experience compared to typical regional travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 168.6 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Scranton, PA to Guilford Siding, PA is easy. At 3h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 1.7 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 168.6 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 1.7 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Guilford Siding, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
