Sharpsville, PA to Scranton, PA is 297.7 miles and takes about 5h 34m via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. If you're looking for a single-day trip that offers a bit more engagement than a pure highway run, this route could be a good fit, though it's important to be prepared for the varied road conditions.
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
148.9 miles from Sharpsville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
255.5 mi
4h 35m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
North Hermitage Road
4.7 mi
9m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Lamor Road
0.9 mi
1m
Beaver Valley Expressway
0.8 mi
<1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
South Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 255.5 mi, about 4h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sharpsville, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on South Mercer Avenue
95 ft·7 sec·South Mercer Avenue
2
Turn right onto PA 518
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Walnut Street
3
Continue on PA 518
0.9 mi·1 min·Lamor Road
4
Turn right onto PA 18
4.7 mi·9 min·North Hermitage Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on PA 18
0.2 mi·22 sec·New Castle Road
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·52 sec
Toward PA 760 South: New CastleUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto PA 760
0.8 mi·49 sec·Beaver Valley Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 80 East: Mercer
9
Merge onto I 80
255 mi·4 hr 35 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
11
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
13
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
16
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
17
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 34-minute duration, this trip is comfortably achievable in a single day, so consider an early start to maximize your daylight. While there's only one recommended stop, the 'turn-heavy local drive' nature of this route means you'll likely encounter more opportunities for quick breaks along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel, as local roads can sometimes mean longer distances between stations compared to major highways. Planning for a slightly longer travel time than the estimated duration due to the local road segments will help ensure a relaxed journey.
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 148.9 miles from Sharpsville, PA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 255.5 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 65 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.9 miles or 2h 47m 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 Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sharpsville, 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 Sharpsville, PA
This is one driving day of about 297.7 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Sharpsville, 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 255.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 297.1 — 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|PA 518 / South Walnut Street
Turn right onto PA 518 / South Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|PA 18 / North Hermitage Road
Turn right onto PA 18 / North Hermitage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
6 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward PA 760 South: New Castle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 760 South: New Castle
5
262.9 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
7
297.1 mi into trip|~5h 33m 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
$49.35 one way
$98.71 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$54.05
$108.11
premium
$4.93
$57.74
$115.47
diesel
$5.61
$65.73
$131.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.3
1
$31.26
$14.29
Efficient EV
74.4
0
$26.05
$11.91
EV Truck/SUV
119.1
1
$41.68
$19.05
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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Sharpsville, PA
Morning
in Sharpsville on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 2 to 14 mph3% chanceLive forecast
71°F
Clearfield, PA
149 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
4 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
5h 34m 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 characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 11% highway share. You'll spend a good portion of your time on local roads, meaning you should anticipate more frequent turns and potentially slower speeds than you might on an interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 255.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which offers a more continuous journey before you transition to other road types. Be ready to adjust your driving style as you move between these different road profiles.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 255.5 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 518 / South Walnut Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 297.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 (PA 518 / South Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (PA 18 / North Hermitage Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 297.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 255.5 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 518 / South Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (PA 18 / North Hermitage Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.
