Scranton to Quarryville is 135.7 miles and takes about 3h 3m via American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the same region. The route primarily uses surface roads, making for a more local driving experience. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that's easy to plan for.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.9 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
59.7 mi
1h 10m
Chestnut Street
9.5 mi
14m
Beaver Valley Pike
8.3 mi
12m
Lititz Pike
6.1 mi
11m
Stiegel Pike
6 mi
6m
Lancaster Avenue
5.6 mi
6m
North College Street
5.5 mi
6m
Skyline Drive
4.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,824 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,145
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Quarryville, 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
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 124BToward PA 61 North: Frackville
9
Turn straight onto PA 61
500 ft·13 sec·Skyline Drive
10
Turn uturn onto PA 61
4.3 mi·5 min·Skyline Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on PA 61
1.1 mi·1 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
12
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
13
Continue on PA 61
1.6 mi·2 min·North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
14
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi·14 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
15
Continue on PA 61
2.8 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
17
Turn straight onto PA 183
0.6 mi·1 min·Pottsville Street
18
Turn left onto PA 183
0.3 mi·26 sec·South Sillyman Street
19
Continue on PA 183
0.9 mi·2 min·Chestnut Street
20
Continue on PA 183
8.6 mi·12 min·Chestnut Street
21
Turn slight right onto PA 419
1.9 mi·2 min·Four Point Road
22
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 78 West, US 22 West: Harrisburg
23
Merge onto I 78; US 22
3.6 mi·4 min·William Penn Highway
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 13Toward PA 501: BethelUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn left onto PA 501
0.3 mi·42 sec·Lancaster Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Continue on PA 501
1.2 mi·1 min·Lancaster Avenue
Use the right lane.
27
At end of road, turn right onto PA 501
4.1 mi·4 min·Lancaster Avenue
28
Continue on PA 501
5.5 mi·6 min·North College Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on PA 501
6.0 mi·6 min·Stiegel Pike
30
Continue on PA 501
4.2 mi·4 min·Furnace Hill Pike
31
Continue on PA 501
2.4 mi·3 min·Furnace Hills Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on PA 501
1.7 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
33
Continue on PA 501
6.1 mi·11 min·Lititz Pike
34
Continue on US 222; PA 272
1.3 mi·4 min·North Duke Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Continue on South Duke Street
1.5 mi·3 min·South Duke Street
36
Turn right onto Eshelman Mill Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Eshelman Mill Road
37
Continue on Gypsy Hill Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Gypsy Hill Road
38
Continue on Gypsy Hill Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Gypsy Hill Road
39
Turn left onto US 222; PA 741
8.3 mi·12 min·Beaver Valley Pike
40
Continue on US 222
0.6 mi·52 sec·West 4th Street
41
Turn left onto US 222; PA 372
0.5 mi·1 min·West State Street
42
Turn right onto US 222
49 ft·0 sec·South Church Street
43
Arrive at destination
US 222
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 3m duration, leaving Scranton in the morning allows ample time to reach Quarryville without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $25, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially since the longest stretch on the highway is nearly 60 miles. The predominantly surface road profile means you'll encounter more local intersections, so stay aware of changing speed limits.
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 67.9 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.9 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Quarryville, 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 135.7 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 59.7 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 89.3 — 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
8
61.9 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|PA 61 / Skyline Drive
Turn uturn onto PA 61 / Skyline Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward PA 501: Bethel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward PA 501: Bethel
7
89.3 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|PA 501 / Lancaster Avenue
Turn left onto PA 501 / Lancaster Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.00 one way
$48.00 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$26.29
$52.57
premium
$5.24
$28.02
$56.03
diesel
$5.35
$28.58
$57.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.7
0
$14.25
$6.51
Efficient EV
33.9
0
$11.87
$5.43
EV Truck/SUV
54.3
0
$19.00
$8.68
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in Scranton on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
N 0 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Quarryville, PA
Afternoon
in Quarryville on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
N 8 mph1% 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
4 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
3h 3m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 93.6
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with the highway portion making up about 20% of the total distance. The longest stretch on the American Legion Memorial Highway covers 59.7 miles before you transition to Chestnut Street and Beaver Valley Pike. Expect a more grounded drive with less freeway cruising and more interaction with local traffic patterns.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.7 mi on American Legion Memorial Highway.
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 19 significant decision points across 135.7 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 61.9 miles (PA 61 / Skyline Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 3m. Total distance: 135.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.7 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Quarryville, 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 9 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 61.9 miles (PA 61 / Skyline Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Quarryville, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
