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Trip from Shamokin, PA to 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 47m

Distance

86.2 mi

139 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good 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 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m

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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Downtown Shamokin, PA, PA

Shamokin, PA

Kai

Trip Overview

This 86.2-mile drive from Shamokin, PA, to Scranton, PA, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-81 and PA-901, with a small portion on Sunbury Road. Given its relatively short duration and manageable distance, it’s an ideal day trip, and the estimated fuel cost is around $14. This route stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a direct connection between these two cities without requiring an overnight stop.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

43.1 miles from Shamokin, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 67.4 mi 1h 19m
PA 901 4.6 mi 8m
Sunbury Road 4.4 mi 5m
Locust Gap Highway 3.2 mi 3m
Fairgrounds Road 2.2 mi 2m
Mount Carmel Street 1.4 mi 1m
River Street 1 mi 1m
West Sunbury Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 67.4 mi, about 1h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on PA 125

57 ft · 9 sec · North Market Street
2

Turn left onto West Arch Street

17 ft · 1 sec · West Arch Street
3

Turn slight left onto West Lincoln Street

74 ft · 4 sec · West Lincoln Street
4

Turn left onto PA 125

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Market Street
5

At end of road, turn right onto PA 61

0.5 mi · 43 sec · West Sunbury Street
6

Turn slight right onto PA 61

1.4 mi · 1 min · Mount Carmel Street
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
8

Turn right onto PA 901

4.6 mi · 8 min · PA 901
9

At end of road, turn right onto PA 54; PA 901

2.9 mi · 3 min · Locust Gap Highway
10

Continue on PA 901

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Locust Gap Highway
11

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
12

Continue on PA 901

4.4 mi · 5 min · Sunbury Road
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
14

Merge onto I 81

67 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 81
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward PA 307
16

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street
17

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Continue on Adams Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Adams Avenue
19

Turn left onto Biden Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Biden Street
20

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

135 ft · 4 sec · Wyoming Avenue
21

Arrive at destination

Wyoming Avenue

Trip Plan

For this 1h 47m drive, flexibility is your best friend. Since there are no recommended stops and the longest stretch is manageable, you can depart whenever suits your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 67.4-mile segment on I-81, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The $14 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to factor in a little extra. You'll be spending most of your time on I-81, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition for sustained highway speeds.

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 43.1 miles from Shamokin, PA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.1 miles or 54m 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 30m

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

Before You Leave

+

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Shamokin, PA

This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Shamokin, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 67.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

borough in southwestern Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Hazleton, PA

43 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.

Popular next leg

West Hazleton, PA to Scranton, PA

43.1 mi · 55m

Pacing Suggestions

Frackville, PA

Fuel and coffee

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

West Hazleton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.1 miles from Shamokin, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.4 miles.

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.

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 86.2

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: 12–8 am

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 86.2

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 86.2

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 55.4

Mountain Top, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 86.2

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 67.7

Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 80

Moosic, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

InCharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 67.7

Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18333994638

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Arch Street

Turn left onto West Arch Street

Navigation decision point

5
7 mi into trip | ~11m in | PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway

At end of road, turn right onto PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway

Navigation decision point

7
85.5 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | Cedar Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
85.9 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | Biden Street

Turn left onto Biden Street

Navigation decision point

5
86.1 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in | Wyoming Avenue

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.29 one way

$28.58 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $15.65 $31.30
premium $4.93 $16.72 $33.43
diesel $5.61 $19.03 $38.06

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: 30.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.9 0 $9.05 $4.14
Efficient EV 21.6 0 $7.54 $3.45
EV Truck/SUV 34.5 0 $12.07 $5.52

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 18, 2026

Origin

Shamokin, PA

Afternoon in Shamokin on Sunday

Local time

2:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scranton, PA

Afternoon in Scranton on Sunday

Local time

2:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Partly Cloudy

E 2 mph 0% 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

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

1h 47m 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

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...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 14.9
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-81. Expect long stretches of uninterrupted driving, including a continuous 67.4-mile segment on I-81. This means you'll likely experience consistent speeds and a less varied landscape compared to a winding, scenic byway. The road's personality is geared towards efficient travel, making it a functional commute rather than a leisurely exploration.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.4 mi on I 81.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and PA 901. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Arch Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Arch Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway): Navigation decision point; at 85.5 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Shamokin, PA

Full guide →

Shamokin is a small city in the Alleghenies and Susquehanna Valley of east-central Pennsylvania.

Arriving 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 1h 47m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 67.4 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Arch Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway): Navigation decision point; at 85.5 miles (Cedar Avenue): 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 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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