This 101.2-mile drive from Scranton to Richland, Pennsylvania, is a manageable one-day trip, taking around 2 hours and 12 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a notable portion on the American Legion Memorial Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, this route is an economical option for a short excursion within the Northeast region. The journey offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, making it a good choice if you prefer to keep moving and aren't looking for a leisurely, stop-and-go adventure. Given its duration and distance, it's perfectly suited for a single day's travel without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.6 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
59.7 mi
1h 10m
Chestnut Street
10.1 mi
16m
Lancaster Avenue
5.6 mi
6m
Skyline Drive
4.4 mi
5m
William Penn Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Route 61 South
2.8 mi
3m
North College Street
2.3 mi
2m
West Lincoln Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
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 Richland, 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
2.3 mi·2 min·North College Street
29
Turn left onto US 422
2.1 mi·3 min·West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
30
Turn right onto Millardsville Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Millardsville Road
31
Continue on Chestnut Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Chestnut Street
32
Continue on West Main Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Main Street
33
Turn left onto North Race Street
82 ft·6 sec·North Race Street
34
Turn right
92 ft·6 sec
35
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 101.2-mile journey, departing Scranton in the late morning should allow you to arrive in Richland with ample daylight. Since the drive is only about 2 hours and 12 minutes and has a low fuel cost of $17, you have a lot of flexibility. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps in a town along Chestnut Street or Lancaster Avenue. Keep an eye on your surroundings as you navigate the numerous turns; the longest stretch without a significant turn is 59.7 miles, so be mindful of changing road conditions and speed limits on the local roads.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.6 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 1h 1m 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.6 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richland, 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 101.2 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Scranton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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
$16.51 one way
$33.02 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$18.16
$36.31
premium
$4.86
$19.38
$38.75
diesel
$5.40
$21.53
$43.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
EV Truck/SUV
40.5
0
$14.17
$6.48
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Evening
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
6:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Richland, PA
Evening
in Richland on Sunday
Local time
6:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Sunny
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
45°F
New Philadelphia, PA
51 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
5 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
2h 12m 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 94.2
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?
Expect a drive with a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a long, straight highway stretch. Only 3% of this route is on highways, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 59.7 miles along the American Legion Memorial Highway. This suggests a journey that involves navigating through various local roads and potentially some smaller towns, offering a more intimate connection with the Pennsylvania landscape rather than a high-speed interstate cruise.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.2 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 2h 12m. Total distance: 101.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m 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 Richland, 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. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Richland, PA before heading back.
