Origin
Scranton, PA
Late night in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, PA
Nothing Ahead
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Palmer, PA.
Start on Wyoming Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
Turn right onto CR 3023
Continue on Cedar Avenue
Turn left onto River Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on US 22
Continue on US 22
Continue on US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto PA 66
Continue on PA Tpke 66
Continue on US 119
Continue on US 119
Turn straight onto US 119
Merge onto US 119
Turn slight right onto US 119
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto PA 21
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn right onto High Street
Continue on Corob Street
Turn right onto PA 166
Continue on PA 166
Turn left onto Sr3013
Continue on Palmer Road
Turn right onto Croushore Road
Turn right onto Tank Hill Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop 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.
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.
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
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
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
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto PA 66 / State Route 66 toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$51.63 one way
$103.25 round trip
| 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
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Palmer on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
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.
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.
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.
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
Hollidaysburg
Delmont
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).
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.
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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