Scranton to Harborcreek is 316.7 miles and takes about 6h 17m via Southern Tier Expressway/I-86/I-81, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region of the state to itself. Expect a straightforward drive with a high percentage of highway miles. It's a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss. Consider this route for its directness and manageable driving time.
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
158.3 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 8m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~527 veh/hr typical
· worst 690
Quietest
2 AM
~31 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Harborcreek, PA.
1
Start on Wyoming Avenue
0.2 mi·43 sec·Wyoming Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 11; PA 307
0.2 mi·50 sec·Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 11; PA 307
3.1 mi·4 min·North Scranton Expressway
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit onto US 6 BUS
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 6 BUS
Toward I 81, US 6 Business East, US 6 East: Dickson City
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS
518 ft·12 sec·US 6 BUS
Toward US 6 Business East, I 81 North, US 6 West: Dickson City, Binghamton
6
Merge onto US 6 BUS
229 ft·5 sec·Scranton Carbondale Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward I 81 North, US 6 West: BinghamtonUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 81; US 6
54 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 81; US 6
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
11
Turn left onto State Highway 16
5.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 16
12
Continue on NY 16
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Union Street
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
79 mi·1 hr 32 min·Southern Tier Expressway
16
Continue on I 86
6.8 mi·7 min·Hopkins-Bowser Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·1 min
Toward I-90: Erie
18
Merge onto I 90
0.8 mi·53 sec·AMVETS Memorial Highway
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 35Toward PA 531: Harborcreek
20
Turn right onto PA 531
2.6 mi·4 min·Depot Road
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 20
0.1 mi·19 sec·Buffalo Road
Use the right lane.
22
Arrive at destination
US 20
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider leaving Scranton in the morning to arrive in Harborcreek with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can plan for a brief break or fuel-up mid-route. The estimated fuel cost of $53 is helpful for budgeting, but remember to check current prices. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time and can adjust your pace as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches like the 139.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.3 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 3h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.5 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 70 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.3 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harborcreek, 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 316.7 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 139.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Hornellsville Scenic Overlook/ Texting Zone / Parking Area
0.1 mi from route
Erwin Text Zone / Parking Area
0.1 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Chautauqua Lake Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.5 mi from 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 0.2 and 316.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street
Turn left onto US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|US 6 BUS
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS toward US 6 Business East, I 81 North, US 6 West: Dickson City, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 Business East, I 81 North, US 6 Wes...
8
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North, US 6 West: Binghamton
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 81 North, US 6 West: Binghamton
6
158.5 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
7
316.6 mi into trip|~6h 16m in|US 20 / Buffalo Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 20 / Buffalo Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.50 one way
$100.99 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$55.88
$111.77
premium
$4.81
$59.95
$119.90
diesel
$4.80
$59.80
$119.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95
1
$33.25
$15.20
Efficient EV
79.2
0
$27.71
$12.67
EV Truck/SUV
126.7
1
$44.34
$20.27
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Harborcreek, PA
Late night
in Harborcreek on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Smoke
NW 5 mph1% 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 17m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 predominantly highway, with 96% of the route on major roads like the Southern Tier Expressway, I-86, and I-81. You'll encounter your longest stretch without needing to exit on the Southern Tier Expressway for 139.5 miles. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate relatively consistent speeds and fewer surface street interruptions for much of the trip. The frequent exits on these interstates mean you'll have options for services, but they can also indicate more developed areas along the way.
96% 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: 139.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 316.7 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 0.2 miles (US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (US 6 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6h 17m. Total distance: 316.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 Harborcreek, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (US 6 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Harborcreek, PA before the return drive.
