This 104-mile drive from Scranton to Spring Ridge, Pennsylvania, will take you approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. It's a straightforward trip entirely within the Northeast region of PA, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, this route is budget-friendly for a short journey. The drive primarily utilizes local roads, with only a small portion on highways. Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that's manageable for one day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
59.7 mi
1h 10m
Center Avenue
10.6 mi
12m
Pottsville Pike
8.3 mi
9m
Skyline Drive
4.4 mi
5m
Centre Street
4.2 mi
5m
US 222
4.1 mi
5m
Route 61 South
3 mi
3m
North Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
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 Spring Ridge, 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
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
16
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on PA 61
4.2 mi·5 min·Centre Street
18
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·17 sec·South 4th Street
19
Continue on PA 61
2.3 mi·2 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on PA 61
0.6 mi·43 sec·Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on PA 61
3.2 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·North Centre Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on PA 61
2.8 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 222 South: Lancaster
25
Merge onto US 222
4.1 mi·5 min·US 222
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward Spring Ridge Drive
27
Continue on Papermill Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Papermill Road
28
Turn right onto Meridian Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Meridian Boulevard
29
Turn right
210 ft·11 sec
30
Turn left
0.1 mi·35 sec
31
Turn left
203 ft·15 sec
32
Turn right
305 ft·22 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 10-minute duration, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed. With a fuel cost of around $17, you won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling stops. Pay attention to the local road conditions and turns, especially during that 59.7-mile stretch on American Legion Memorial Highway, as this is where you'll cover the most ground without major route changes.
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 52 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 1h 3m 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spring Ridge, 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 104 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 103.9 — 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
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Frackville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 124B
Toward PA 61 North: Frackville
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.
5
103.9 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.39 one way
$34.79 round trip
$4.25/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.64
$18.98
$37.96
premium
$4.97
$20.33
$40.67
diesel
$5.35
$21.91
$43.82
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: 36.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-27.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.10
$4.16
EV Truck/SUV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Late night
in Scranton on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Spring Ridge, PA
Late night
in Spring Ridge on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
New Philadelphia, PA
52 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
2h 10m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 71.7
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?
The profile of this route is best described as turn-heavy and local, with only 7% of the journey on highways. You'll be navigating a mix of roads, including American Legion Memorial Highway, Center Avenue, and Pottsville Pike. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.7 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway, offering a bit of consistent driving before you transition back to more varied local roads. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaged driving experience that requires your attention.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 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 15 significant decision points across 104 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 61.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 10m. Total distance: 104 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m 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.
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 Spring Ridge, 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. 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 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 61.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Spring Ridge, PA before heading back.
