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Trip from Scranton, PA to Palmer, PA

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

Drive Time

6h 24m

Distance

311.4 mi

501 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 12m ★
6 AM
6h 24m
8 AM
6h 49m
10 AM
6h 33m
12 PM
6h 30m
3 PM
6h 34m
5 PM
6h 48m
8 PM
6h 17m

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

Downtown Palmer, PA, PA

Palmer, PA

Nothing Ahead

Trip Overview

Scranton, PA to Palmer, PA is 311.4 miles and takes about 6h 24m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region for its entirety. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns and local road segments rather than long stretches of uninterrupted highway. With a highway share of only 11%, this route is best suited for those who prefer a more connected-to-the-ground driving experience over high-speed travel. Consider this route if you enjoy a journey with a bit more engagement behind the wheel.

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

155.7 miles from Scranton, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m 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
Admiral Peary Highway 13.4 mi 19m
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass 12.5 mi 13m
University Drive 10.7 mi 12m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Palmer, 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 151B Toward 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 161 Toward 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, Delmont Use the slight right lane.
19

Keep slight left at fork

417 ft · 16 sec
Toward PA 66 South: Greensburg Use the slight left lane.
20

Merge onto PA 66

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Route 66
Toward PA 66 South: Greensburg Use the left lane.
21

Continue on PA Tpke 66

12 mi · 13 min · Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
22

Continue on US 119

8.5 mi · 10 min · Amos K Hutchinson Bypass
23

Continue on US 119

7.9 mi · 9 min · Memorial Boulevard
24

Turn straight onto US 119

0.6 mi · 39 sec · Blackstone Road
25

Merge onto US 119

0.5 mi · 33 sec · Morrell Avenue
26

Turn slight right onto US 119

11 mi · 12 min · University Drive
27

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward PA 21 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight left at fork

162 ft · 7 sec
29

Turn left onto PA 21

6.9 mi · 12 min · McClellandtown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
30

Turn right onto Main Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Main Street
31

Turn right onto High Street

428 ft · 21 sec · High Street
32

Continue on Corob Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Corob Street
33

Turn right onto PA 166

166 ft · 3 sec · Edenborn Road
34

Continue on PA 166

1.2 mi · 2 min · Ball Hill Road
35

Turn left onto Sr3013

0.4 mi · 1 min · Sr3013
36

Continue on Palmer Road

0.7 mi · 2 min · Palmer Road
37

Turn right onto Croushore Road

1.6 mi · 6 min · Croushore Road
38

Turn right onto Tank Hill Road

199 ft · 8 sec · Tank Hill Road
39

Arrive at destination

Tank Hill Road

Trip Plan

Given the 6h 24m estimated duration, departing Scranton in the morning will allow ample time to reach Palmer before evening. While this route is manageable in a single day, it's not a high-speed interstate cruise. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel; the $52 fuel cost is an estimate, so check prices along your path. Keep an eye out for the frequent changes in road type, especially as you approach Palmer, to ensure you're on the right track.

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 155.7 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 2h 58m 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 69 miles or 1h 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 155.7 miles or 2h 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmer, 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 311.4 miles and 6h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Altoona, PA

156 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

Harrisburg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wellsville, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 155.7 miles from Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.5 miles.

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 24

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

$51.63 one way

$103.25 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $56.54 $113.08
premium $4.93 $60.39 $120.78
diesel $5.61 $68.75 $137.51

Estimated Tolls: $0.87

Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass (12.5 mi) $0.87

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

$52

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 109 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 93.4 1 $32.70 $14.95
Efficient EV 77.9 0 $27.25 $12.46
EV Truck/SUV 124.6 1 $43.60 $19.93

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Scranton, PA

Late night in Scranton on Sunday

Local time

12:45 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Palmer, PA

Late night in Palmer on Sunday

Local time

12:45 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live 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

36 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 24m 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

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...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 214.7
Park Closure: North Abutment Overlook Closure
View on nps.gov
Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 300.6
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial

National Memorial

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 214.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is characterized as a "turn-heavy local drive," with only 11% of the total mileage on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, which means a more varied pace and frequent adjustments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 98.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway. Be prepared for a driving experience that keeps you actively involved, transitioning between different road types and speeds as you make your way through towns and rural areas.

Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 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 Effort 10/10

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 24 significant decision points across 311.4 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.

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 Palmer, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Delmont.

Altoona

158.1 mi in | ~3h | via I 99; US 220

Hollidaysburg

191.9 mi in | ~3h 37m

Delmont

257.4 mi in | ~5h 6m

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.

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 6h 24m. Total distance: 311.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 24m 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.

Expect about $0.87 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Palmer, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Palmer, PA before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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