Origin
Scranton, PA
Morning in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scranton, PA to Sterling, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
178.9 mi
288 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, PA
Clément Proust
Trip Overview
Scranton, PA to Sterling, PA is 178.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, making it a convenient option if you're already in the Northeast region. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a drive time under four hours and a modest fuel cost, this route is well-suited for a single day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
89.4 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 98.5 mi | 1h 47m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 32.7 mi | 39m |
| Jacksonville Road | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| Port Matilda Highway | 10.2 mi | 14m |
| Walton Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Spring Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Sarah Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 28th Division Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Sterling, 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 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
9
Merge onto I 80
99 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
11
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Division Highway
Exit 62
Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
13
Continue on US 322
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto PA 504
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Presqueisle Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Front Street
16
Turn right onto PA 53
480 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Maple Street
17
Continue on PA 53
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Walton Street
18
Continue on PA 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Stone Street
19
Turn right onto Kate Street
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
Kate Street
20
At end of road, turn left onto Elizabeth Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Elizabeth Street
21
Turn right onto PA 53
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Sarah Street
22
Continue on PA 53
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Spring Street
23
Turn right onto Sterling Avenue
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Sterling Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Sterling Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3h 33m, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Scranton in the morning should allow you to reach Sterling with plenty of daylight to spare. Since the longest stretch is under 100 miles and the total drive is less than 180 miles, you might only need one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between the mentioned main roads, and consider filling up before leaving Scranton to lock in your $30 budget. Your single recommended stop is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and confirm your navigation for the remaining portion of the drive.
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 89.4 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.4 miles or 1h 43m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sterling, 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 178.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 98.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.4 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 174.2 — 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
6
133.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
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
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
6
158.1 mi into trip
|
~3h in
|
US 322 / 28th Division Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 / 28th Division Highway toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 62
Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
6
174.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
|
Elizabeth Street
At end of road, turn left onto Elizabeth Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.66 one way
$59.32 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $32.48 | $64.97 |
| premium | $4.93 | $34.70 | $69.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.50 | $79.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.7 | 0 | $18.78 | $8.59 |
| Efficient EV | 44.7 | 0 | $15.65 | $7.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.6 | 0 | $25.05 | $11.45 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Sterling, PA
Morning in Sterling on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live 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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive' with no highway share, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 98.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway. You'll primarily be navigating roads like American Legion Memorial Highway and Jacksonville Road, which will likely feel more intimate and less like a high-speed transit. This type of driving demands your attention throughout, offering a more engaging experience behind the wheel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 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 Effort
5/10
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 178.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Scranton, PA
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 178.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sterling, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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