Scranton, PA to North Belle Vernon, PA is 288.1 miles and takes about 5h 45m via Keystone Shortway and I-99, 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 a neighboring part of the state. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, making it a more laid-back option than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of just under 100 miles, it's a manageable trip for a single day.
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
144.1 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
50.7 mi
1h 6m
I 99
33.8 mi
36m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
15.7 mi
21m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
12.2 mi
13m
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 North Belle Vernon, 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
34 mi·47 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward PA 66: Greensburg, DelmontUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
417 ft·16 sec
Toward PA 66 South: GreensburgUse the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto PA 66
0.9 mi·1 min·State Route 66
Toward PA 66 South: GreensburgUse the left lane.
21
Continue on PA Tpke 66
12 mi·13 min·Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 0BToward I 70, I 76, PATP: New Stanton
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton
24
Continue on I 70
16 mi·21 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward North Belle Vernon
26
Continue on Fayette Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·Fayette Street
27
Turn right onto Broad Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·Broad Avenue
28
Turn left onto Grant Street
99 ft·4 sec·Grant Street
29
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 45m drive, consider leaving Scranton early in the morning. This allows you ample time to reach North Belle Vernon without feeling rushed, even with the 98.5-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Plan your fuel stops in advance, especially since the estimated fuel cost is $48, and keep an eye out for changing speed limits as you move from highway sections to the surface roads that make up the majority of the 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 144.1 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 2h 44m 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 63 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.1 miles or 2h 44m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Belle Vernon, 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 288.1 miles and 5h 45m.
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 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 257.6 — 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
6
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
7
257.4 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward PA 66: Greensburg, Delmont
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 PA 66: Greensburg, Delmont
8
257.6 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
7
257.6 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|PA 66 / State Route 66
Merge onto PA 66 / State Route 66 toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.32 one way
$100.63 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$55.09
$110.18
premium
$5.20
$58.94
$117.87
diesel
$6.28
$71.19
$142.37
Estimated Tolls: $0.85
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
(12.2 mi)$0.85
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.4
1
$30.25
$13.83
Efficient EV
72
0
$25.21
$11.52
EV Truck/SUV
115.2
1
$40.33
$18.44
Gas CO2
101 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 22, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Friday
Local time
1:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
NE 1 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
North Belle Vernon, PA
Late night
in North Belle Vernon on Friday
Local time
1:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
N 0 to 5 mph0% 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
1 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
5h 45m 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.
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
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 218.6
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 288.1
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 218.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 12% of this 288.1-mile drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 98.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which provides a good opportunity for steady cruising. After this, you'll transition to other surface roads like the William Penn Highway, offering a different driving experience with potentially more local traffic or varied speed limits.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 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?
10/10
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 Effort10/10
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 288.1 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 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 257.4 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
1,988 ft524 ft
Total Climb
2,487 ft
Total Descent
2,322 ft
Highest Point
1,988 ft
~205.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,464 ft
Notable High Points
1,549 ft at ~102.9 miles+572 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 North Belle Vernon, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Delmont and Patp: New Stanton.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 288.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
Expect about $0.85 in tolls one way, starting with Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass. 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.
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 North Belle Vernon, 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 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 257.4 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, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at North Belle Vernon, PA before the return drive.
