Trip from Shamokin Dam, PA to City of Scranton, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 49m

Distance

87.2 mi

140 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

1h 41m ★

6 AM

1h 49m

8 AM

2h 5m

10 AM

1h 55m

12 PM

1h 53m

3 PM

1h 55m

5 PM

2h 4m

8 PM

1h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Shamokin Dam, PA

Michael Taccetta

City of Scranton, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

This 87.7-mile journey from Shamokin Dam, PA, to the City of Scranton, PA, is a manageable 1-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 32 minutes. Navigating primarily via the Susquehanna Trail, Water Street, and Point Township Drive, you'll find this drive is not on any major highways, with a 0% highway share. Budget around $15 for fuel for this relatively short excursion. The route stays within the Northeast region, offering a straightforward drive. Given its duration, it's perfect for a single-day adventure 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

43.6 miles from Shamokin Dam, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	35.5 mi	39m
I 81	32.4 mi	39m
Point Township Drive	8.1 mi	11m
Continental Boulevard	2.6 mi	3m
Northumberland Street	2.1 mi	3m
Water Street	1.8 mi	3m
Susquehanna Trail	1.8 mi	2m
River Street	1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 35.5 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shamokin Dam, PA and City of Scranton, PA.

Start on US 11; US 15

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Susquehanna Trail

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto US 11

1.8 mi · 2 min · Susquehanna Trail

Continue on US 11

1.8 mi · 3 min · Water Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 11

8.1 mi · 11 min · Point Township Drive

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 11

2.1 mi · 3 min · Northumberland Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto PA 54

2.6 mi · 3 min · Continental Boulevard

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Merge onto I 80

35 mi · 39 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

Merge onto I 81

32 mi · 39 min · I 81

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward PA 307

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Cedar Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

Cedar Avenue

Trip Plan

With a total duration of just 1 hour and 32 minutes, this 87.7-mile drive offers plenty of flexibility. You can easily depart at your leisure. Given the local nature of the roads and the absence of long highway stretches, consider packing snacks and drinks, as stops might be less frequent or predictable than on a major interstate. The estimated fuel cost is about $15, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off, especially since you'll be on local roads for the entire journey. Keep an eye out for the various points where you'll transition between the Susquehanna Trail, Water Street, and Point Township Drive.

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 43.6 miles from Shamokin Dam, PA, or about 55m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.5 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 19 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.6 miles or 55m 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 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Shamokin Dam, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Shamokin Dam, PA

This is one driving day of about 87.2 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Shamokin Dam, PA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 35.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

CDP in eastern Columbia County, Pennsylvania

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mifflinville, PA

44 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

Mechanicsville, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Berwick, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.6 miles from Shamokin Dam, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 31.3

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 11; US 15 / North Susquehanna Trail

Depart onto US 11; US 15 / North Susquehanna Trail

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

14.4 mi into trip | ~22m in | PA 54 / Continental Boulevard

Turn left onto PA 54 / Continental Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

52.7 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

85.9 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in

Take the exit toward PA 307

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward PA 307

87 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | Cedar Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.46 one way

$28.91 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$15.83	$31.67
premium	$4.93	$16.91	$33.82
diesel	$5.61	$19.25	$38.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	26.2	$9.16	$4.19
Efficient EV	21.8	$7.63	$3.49
EV Truck/SUV	34.9	$12.21	$5.58

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Shamokin Dam, PA

Morning in Shamokin Dam on Sunday

Local time

6:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Scranton, PA

Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday

Local time

6:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

SW 2 to 8 mph 28% chance 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

1 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

1h 49m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 87.7-mile route, meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than cruising on long, straight stretches. The 0% highway share reinforces this; you won't encounter any high-speed interstate driving. While the data doesn't specify the longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests you'll be navigating various local roads. This drive is characterized by its constant engagement with the local road network, making for a dynamic driving experience.

37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 35.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 11; US 15 / North Susquehanna Trail.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.2 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (US 11; US 15 / North Susquehanna Trail): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,414 ft 470 ft

Total Climb

1,384 ft

Total Descent

1,126 ft

Highest Point

1,414 ft

~56 mi in

Elevation Range

945 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 87.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. 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 City of Scranton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Shamokin Dam, PA to City of Scranton, PA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Shamokin Dam, PA

City of Scranton, PA

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 49m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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