Scranton to Sharpsville is 296.8 miles and takes about 5h 33m via Keystone Shortway and American Legion Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a trip that predominantly uses surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape. It's a manageable, single-day trip if you're looking for a straightforward connection between these two cities.
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
148.4 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
254.7 mi
4h 34m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
South Hermitage Road
3.1 mi
6m
North Hermitage Road
1.7 mi
3m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Lamor Road
0.9 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
South Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 254.7 mi, about 4h 34m
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 Sharpsville, 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
255 mi·4 hr 34 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 4BToward PA 760 North: Sharon-Hermitage
11
Merge onto PA 760
0.2 mi·15 sec·Beaver Valley Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward PA 18 North: Hermitage
13
Merge onto PA 18
341 ft·7 sec·New Castle Road
14
Continue on PA 18
3.1 mi·6 min·South Hermitage Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on PA 18
1.7 mi·3 min·North Hermitage Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto PA 518
0.9 mi·1 min·Lamor Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on PA 518
0.2 mi·35 sec·South Walnut Street
18
Turn left onto South Mercer Avenue
95 ft·2 sec·South Mercer Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
South Mercer Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 33m estimated duration, starting your drive from Scranton in the morning should allow ample time to reach Sharpsville before evening. While the longest stretch is considerable at 254.7 miles, the overall drive is manageable in one day. Plan for one stop to break up the nearly 300 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $50, and it's advisable to refuel before you get too low, especially on surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on highways.
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 148.4 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.7 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 65 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.4 miles or 2h 46m 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 Sharpsville, 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 296.8 miles and 5h 33m.
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 254.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 295.7 — 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
5
289.8 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward PA 760 North: Sharon-Hermitage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 4B
Toward PA 760 North: Sharon-Hermitage
6
295.7 mi into trip|~5h 31m in|PA 518 / Lamor Road
Turn left onto PA 518 / Lamor Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.32 one way
$94.65 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$52.37
$104.74
premium
$4.81
$56.18
$112.36
diesel
$4.80
$56.04
$112.08
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: 103.8 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
1
$31.16
$14.25
Efficient EV
74.2
0
$25.97
$11.87
EV Truck/SUV
118.7
1
$41.55
$19.00
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
Afternoon
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
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
Sharpsville, PA
Afternoon
in Sharpsville on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Smoke
S 0 to 6 mph63% 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
148 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
18 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
5h 33m 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?
This route is almost entirely surface roads, with 0% highway. You'll be on local roads for the full 296.8 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a single named road is 254.7 miles along the Keystone Shortway. Be prepared for a consistent pace without the frequent exits and merges typical of interstate driving.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 254.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 13 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 296.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,778 ft542 ft
Total Climb
2,190 ft
Total Descent
1,915 ft
Highest Point
1,778 ft
~148.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,235 ft
Notable High Points
1,678 ft at ~106 miles+638 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 33m. Total distance: 296.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 254.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 37 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 Sharpsville, 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 37 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 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sharpsville, PA before the return drive.
