Scranton to New Wilmington is 287.2 miles and takes about 5h 20m via Keystone Shortway and American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, making it a good option if you prefer a more scenic, less highway-intensive experience. It's a single-day trip that should be manageable without needing an overnight stay.
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
143.6 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
243.9 mi
4h 22m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Mercer-New Wilmington Road
6.3 mi
8m
Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi
1m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Market Street
0.3 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Lackawanna Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 243.9 mi, about 4h 22m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,070 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,484
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
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 New Wilmington, 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
244 mi·4 hr 22 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 15Toward US 19: Mercer
11
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft·7 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 19
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Erie Street
13
Turn left onto Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Steingrabe Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto PA 158
6.3 mi·8 min·Mercer-New Wilmington Road
15
Continue on PA 158
0.3 mi·1 min·North Market Street
16
Turn left onto PA 208
90 ft·4 sec·East Neshannock Avenue
17
Turn right
25 ft·1 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 20m estimated drive time, leaving Scranton in the morning allows ample time to reach New Wilmington before evening. With no highway driving, plan for a steady pace and be mindful of the 287.2 miles. You'll encounter one designated stop on the route, likely a good point to stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $48, so ensure your tank is full before departing or at your stop. The absence of a significant highway segment means you can adjust your departure time more flexibly.
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 143.6 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243.9 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 63 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.6 miles or 2h 41m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Wilmington, 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 287.2 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 243.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 279.4 — 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
34.4 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
5
279.1 mi into trip|~5h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 19: Mercer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 15
Toward US 19: Mercer
6
279.4 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|Steingrabe Road
Turn left onto Steingrabe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.54 one way
$101.09 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$55.27
$110.54
premium
$5.23
$59.09
$118.18
diesel
$6.18
$69.87
$139.73
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: 100.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.2
1
$30.16
$13.79
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.13
$11.49
EV Truck/SUV
114.9
1
$40.21
$18.38
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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 16, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
7:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 15 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued October 16 at 3:57PM EDT until October 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued October 16 at 3:56PM EDT until October 16 at 4:30PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
New Wilmington, PA
Morning
in New Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
7:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 13 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued October 16 at 3:57PM EDT until October 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued October 16 at 3:56PM EDT until October 16 at 4:30PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
5h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 route has a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 287.2 miles. The longest stretch on a single named road is 243.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway. You'll notice the transition from more developed areas to a more rural cruising feel as you progress. Expect frequent intersections and traffic signals as you navigate through towns.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 243.9 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 20m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
The longest stretch is about 243.9 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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.
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 36 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 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Wilmington, PA before the return drive.
