This 296.7-mile journey from Shenango, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is estimated to take around 4 hours and 50 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll navigate a route primarily on local roads, with no highway driving, so expect a more engaging and turn-heavy experience. Budget approximately $49 for fuel. Given the duration and the nature of the drive, it's perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you flexibility in your timing. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, so you'll be exploring familiar territory throughout.
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
148.2 miles from Shenango, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
244.4 mi
4h 23m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Mercer Road
7.2 mi
9m
Wasser Bridge Road
2.5 mi
4m
North Erie Street
2.4 mi
4m
Greenville Road
2.3 mi
3m
Greenville Mercer Road
1.6 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 244.4 mi, about 4h 23m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,094 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,455
Quietest
2 AM
~184 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Shenango, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Grant Street
89 ft·8 sec·Grant Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
367 ft·20 sec·Washington Street
3
Turn right onto PA 18
0.6 mi·50 sec·Sharon Road
4
Take the exit
521 ft·20 sec
Toward Wasser Bridge Road, Good Hope Road
5
Turn left
222 ft·7 sec
6
Turn left onto Wasser Bridge Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Wasser Bridge Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto PA 58
7.2 mi·9 min·Mercer Road
8
Continue on PA 58
1.6 mi·2 min·Greenville Mercer Road
9
Continue on PA 58
2.3 mi·3 min·Greenville Road
10
Continue on PA 58
0.2 mi·24 sec·Greenville Avenue
11
Continue on US 19; US 62; PA 58
2.4 mi·4 min·North Erie Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 19
0.2 mi·24 sec·Perry Highway
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
14
Merge onto I 80
244 mi·4 hr 23 min·Keystone Shortway
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
16
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
18
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
With a driving time of under 5 hours, this trip offers flexibility. You can depart in the morning and arrive in Scranton by afternoon, or take a more leisurely pace. Plan for one stop to break up the 296.7 miles and manage your fuel, keeping the $49 estimate in mind. Since you're sticking to local roads, pay close attention to speed limit changes and potential turns, especially on roads like Wasser Bridge Road. Leaving early in the morning will give you ample daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you approach Scranton.
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 148.2 miles from Shenango, PA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.4 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 65 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.2 miles or 2h 48m 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 30m
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 Shenango, 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 Shenango, PA
This is one driving day of about 296.3 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Shenango, 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 244.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 296.2 — 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|Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward Wasser Bridge Road, Good Hope Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wasser Bridge Road, Good Hope Road
6
17.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Clarion
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
5
261.9 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
296.2 mi into trip|~5h 34m 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
$47.24 one way
$94.49 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$52.28
$104.57
premium
$4.81
$56.09
$112.17
diesel
$4.80
$55.95
$111.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.9
1
$31.11
$14.22
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.93
$11.85
EV Truck/SUV
118.5
1
$41.48
$18.96
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Shenango, PA
Afternoon
in Shenango on Sunday
Local time
12:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Smoke
S 0 to 6 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
83°F
Clearfield, PA
148 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
19 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 a 0% highway share. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience as you'll be making frequent turns and navigating local roadways like Washington Street, Sharon Road, and Wasser Bridge Road. The absence of long highway stretches means you'll be more immersed in the local landscape, with constant engagement required from the driver. While there's no specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the overall profile suggests a continuous series of local road segments rather than long, straightaways.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 244.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 34m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,787 ft553 ft
Total Climb
1,904 ft
Total Descent
2,144 ft
Highest Point
1,787 ft
~190.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,234 ft
Notable High Points
1,787 ft at ~190.5 miles+730 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 296.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 244.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
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 City of Scranton, PA before the return drive.
