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Trip from Scranton, PA to Jim Thorpe, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 6m

Distance

48.5 mi

78 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 1m ★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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borough and county seat of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States

Jim Thorpe, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick getaway in Northeast Pennsylvania, the 48.5-mile journey from Scranton to Jim Thorpe is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 6 minutes behind the wheel, making it a very manageable excursion that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $8, this route is as budget-friendly as it is convenient. Navigating through the Northeast region is straightforward, primarily utilizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, PA 903, and the American Legion Memorial Highway. Whether you are aiming for a change of pace or a simple change of scenery, this drive offers a practical balance of efficiency and ease for any traveler.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension 27 mi 31m
PA 903 9.7 mi 18m
American Legion Memorial Highway 8.4 mi 9m
River Street 0.9 mi 1m
Cedar Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Lackawanna Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
PA 315 0.2 mi <1m
Wyoming Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension — 27 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Jim Thorpe, 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

8.4 mi · 9 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward PA 315 South: Pittston
9

Continue on PA 315

0.2 mi · 23 sec · PA 315
10

Take the exit

343 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
12

Continue on this road

499 ft · 17 sec · this road
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
14

Merge onto I 476; PATP

27 mi · 31 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 87 Toward PA 903: Lake Harmony, Jim Thorpe
16

Keep slight right at fork

242 ft · 7 sec
Toward PA 903 South: Jim Thorpe Use the right lane.
17

Turn slight right onto PA 903

9.7 mi · 18 min · PA 903
18

Turn right onto West 6th Street

135 ft · 5 sec · West 6th Street
19

Arrive at destination

West 6th Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Hudson, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hudson, PA

24 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Pittston, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hudson, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.7 — 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

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
6
38.3 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward PA 903: Lake Harmony, Jim Thorpe

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 87 Toward PA 903: Lake Harmony, Jim Thorpe
7
38.7 mi into trip | ~47m in

Keep slight right at fork toward PA 903 South: Jim Thorpe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward PA 903 South: Jim Thorpe

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.04 one way

$16.08 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.81 $17.61
premium $4.93 $9.41 $18.81
diesel $5.61 $10.71 $21.42

Estimated Tolls: $3.51

Pennsylvania Turnpike (27 mi) $3.51

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$4

Total

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.5 0 $5.09 $2.33
Efficient EV 12.1 0 $4.24 $1.94
EV Truck/SUV 19.4 0 $6.79 $3.10

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Scranton, PA

Late night in Scranton on Sunday

Local time

5:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 9 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Destination

Jim Thorpe, PA

Late night in Jim Thorpe on Sunday

Local time

5:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

67°F

Hudson, PA

24 mi in

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

29 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

1h 6m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 76% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start with a substantial 27-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which provides a steady and consistent pace for the majority of the journey. As you transition onto PA 903 and the American Legion Memorial Highway, the character of the road shifts from high-speed interstate travel to more localized driving. Expect a seamless transition between these road types, ensuring you reach your destination without the fatigue of a long, monotonous grind. The overall experience is functional and direct, allowing you to focus on the road ahead while maintaining a reliable timeline.

76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 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 PA 903. 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 Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.5 miles you will encounter 13 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.

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 Jim Thorpe, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Allentown.

Patp

10.5 mi in | ~14m

Allentown

10.6 mi in | ~14m

About the Cities

Starting in Scranton, PA

Full guide →

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.

Arriving in Jim Thorpe, PA

Full guide →

Jim Thorpe is a borough in the Coal Region, near Lehighton, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 48.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.51 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.

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 Jim Thorpe, 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 Jim Thorpe, PA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Jim Thorpe, PA to Scranton, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

48.3 mi 1h 5m

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