Scranton to Houston, PA is 303.9 miles and takes about 6h 18m via Lackawanna Avenue, Cedar Avenue, and River Street, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region from start to finish. Given its mostly surface road profile and a duration under seven hours, it's a manageable one-day drive. Plan for a steady pace as you navigate through towns and local thoroughfares.
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
152 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.2 mi
1h 25m
I 99
33.8 mi
36m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
19.1 mi
26m
I 79
13.6 mi
18m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,120 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,611
Quietest
2 AM
~194 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Houston, 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
33 mi·39 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
9
Merge onto I 80
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 161Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
11
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi·28 min·Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
34 mi·36 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
15
Continue on US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
16
Continue on US 22
13 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 22
45 mi·1 hr 6 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22
19 mi·26 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 65Toward PA 50: Carnegie, HeidelbergUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward CarnegieUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Continue on Jane Street
444 ft·17 sec·Jane Street
22
Continue on Mansfield Boulevard
0.4 mi·46 sec·Mansfield Boulevard
23
Continue on West Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
24
Continue on Noblestown Road
0.4 mi·42 sec·Noblestown Road
25
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·47 sec
26
Merge onto I 79
14 mi·18 min·I 79
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 43Toward PA 519: Houston, Eighty FourUse the slight right lane.
28
At end of road, turn left onto PA 519
0.2 mi·24 sec·Hill Church Houston Road
29
Continue on PA 519
0.3 mi·38 sec·South Main Street
30
Turn left onto PA 519
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Pike Street
31
Turn left onto 2nd Street
131 ft·5 sec·2nd Street
32
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of approximately 6 hours and 18 minutes, this route is well-suited for a single day. Leaving Scranton in the morning should allow you to reach Houston with plenty of daylight. Since the entire drive is on surface roads, factor in potentially slower travel times through populated areas. With a fuel cost estimated at $51, it's wise to ensure your tank is full before departing Scranton, as dedicated service areas might be less frequent than on interstate highways. The single recommended stop suggests a break roughly halfway through the 303.9 miles.
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 152 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 67 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, 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 303.9 miles and 6h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 Keystone Shortway for about 98.5 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 302.9 — 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
267.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
8
287 mi into trip|~5h 51m in
Take the exit toward PA 50: Carnegie, Heidelberg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 65
Toward PA 50: Carnegie, Heidelberg
8
287.2 mi into trip|~5h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Carnegie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Carnegie
8
302.9 mi into trip|~6h 15m in
Take the exit toward PA 519: Houston, Eighty Four
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43
Toward PA 519: Houston, Eighty Four
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.07 one way
$106.15 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$58.11
$116.22
premium
$5.20
$62.17
$124.34
diesel
$6.28
$75.09
$150.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.2
1
$31.91
$14.59
Efficient EV
76
0
$26.59
$12.16
EV Truck/SUV
121.6
1
$42.55
$19.45
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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 Oct 23, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Clear
N 3 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:55PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:04PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Houston, PA
Morning
in Houston on Saturday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog
N 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:55PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:04PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
4 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
6h 18m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 220.1
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 220.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 303.9-mile route is entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway driving. You'll spend the entire 6h 18m navigating local streets like Lackawanna Avenue, Cedar Avenue, and River Street. Expect frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you pass through communities. The longest stretch without a significant break is not specified, but the overall profile suggests consistent engagement with local traffic and infrastructure.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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
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 19 significant decision points across 303.9 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 267.9 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 287 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,846 ft569 ft
Total Climb
2,556 ft
Total Descent
2,308 ft
Highest Point
1,846 ft
~217.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,277 ft
Notable High Points
1,645 ft at ~108.6 miles+597 ft prominence
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 Houston, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Heidelberg and Carnegie.
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
•Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel — railway station in Scranton, the United States of America
Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 18m. Total distance: 303.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 Houston, 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 267.9 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 287 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 Houston, PA before the return drive.
