This 297.6-mile drive from Scranton to Oakwood, Pennsylvania, is a substantial undertaking, estimated to take around 5 hours and 38 minutes. Primarily following the Keystone Shortway and the American Legion Memorial Highway, this route is best suited for a single, dedicated travel day, though you could comfortably split it if preferred. With a projected fuel cost of $49, it's an economical journey. The drive has a turn-heavy local feel, suggesting you'll experience a variety of road types rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. It's a trip entirely within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a consistent regional experience.
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
148.8 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m 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
Beaver Valley Expressway
3.7 mi
3m
South New Castle Street
2.4 mi
4m
Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi
1m
Glen Road
1.1 mi
2m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 243.9 mi, about 4h 22m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,094 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,455
Quietest
2 AM
~184 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Oakwood, 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
0.8 mi·1 min·North Market Street
16
Turn right onto Beechwood Road
0.2 mi·40 sec·Beechwood Road
17
Turn left onto PA 158
2.4 mi·4 min·South New Castle Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto PA 18
0.8 mi·1 min·PA 18
19
Turn right onto Glen Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Glen Road
20
Turn right onto Mitchell Road
460 ft·8 sec·Mitchell Road
21
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
22
Merge onto I 376
3.7 mi·3 min·Beaver Valley Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 13Toward US 224: State Street, PolandUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
190 ft·6 sec
25
Turn left onto US 224
0.7 mi·1 min·West State Street
26
Turn left onto Lower Idlewild Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Lower Idlewild Drive
27
Turn right onto Burns Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·Burns Street
28
Turn right onto Avalon Drive
468 ft·20 sec·Avalon Drive
29
Arrive at destination
Avalon Drive
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 38-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Scranton to maximize your daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; however, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 243.9-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services can be spaced out. The $49 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra. The turn-heavy nature of the route means staying alert and following your navigation closely will be key to a smooth journey.
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 148.8 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 2h 47m 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 65 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.8 miles or 2h 47m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakwood, 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 297.6 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 296.1 — 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
6
279.4 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|Steingrabe Road
Turn left onto Steingrabe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
296.1 mi into trip|~5h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 224: State Street, Poland
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 13
Toward US 224: State Street, Poland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.45 one way
$94.90 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$52.51
$105.03
premium
$4.81
$56.33
$112.67
diesel
$4.80
$56.19
$112.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.3
1
$31.25
$14.28
Efficient EV
74.4
0
$26.04
$11.90
EV Truck/SUV
119
1
$41.66
$19.05
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
5:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Oakwood, PA
Late night
in Oakwood on Sunday
Local time
5:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
83°F
Clearfield, PA
149 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 38m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this 297.6-mile route, with 100% of it being highway. While it's all on paved roads, the 'profile' suggests a dynamic driving experience rather than a straight-line interstate. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 243.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a chance to settle in. However, the overall character points to a more engaging journey with frequent changes in direction and scenery, characteristic of navigating through various communities and landscapes.
Only 1% 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: 243.9 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 297.6 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 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 297.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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 Oakwood, 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 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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oakwood, PA before the return drive.
