Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from South Williamsport, PA to Scranton, PA

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

101.3 mi

163 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 56m ★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown South Williamsport, PA, PA

South Williamsport, PA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

This 101.3-mile journey from South Williamsport, PA, to Scranton, PA, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate on the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a portion on US Highway 15. Given the relatively short duration and distance, it’s an ideal day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $17, making it an economical option. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a consistent regional experience throughout your travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

50.6 miles from South Williamsport, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 49 mi 53m
I 81 32.4 mi 39m
US Highway 15 11.7 mi 16m
Westbranch Highway 2.9 mi 3m
Montgomery Pike 1.3 mi 2m
River Street 1 mi 1m
South Market Street 0.5 mi 1m
Cedar Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 49 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on PA 654

0.3 mi · 36 sec · West Southern Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 15

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Market Street
3

Turn slight left onto US 15

1.3 mi · 2 min · Montgomery Pike
4

Continue on US 15

12 mi · 16 min · US Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on US 15

2.9 mi · 3 min · Westbranch Highway
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec
8

Merge onto I 80

49 mi · 53 min · Keystone Shortway
9

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
10

Merge onto I 81

32 mi · 39 min · I 81
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward PA 307
12

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street
13

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Continue on Adams Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Adams Avenue
15

Turn left onto Biden Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Biden Street
16

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

135 ft · 4 sec · Wyoming Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Wyoming Avenue

Trip Plan

Given this drive takes just over 2 hours, you have the luxury of a flexible departure time. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief stop around the halfway point for a stretch and to refuel if needed, especially considering the longest stretch is 49 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $17, it’s a budget-friendly trip, but it's always wise to top up before you leave South Williamsport.

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 50.6 miles from South Williamsport, PA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49 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 22 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.6 miles or 1h 2m 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 40m

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 South Williamsport, 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 South Williamsport, PA

This is one driving day of about 101.3 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from South Williamsport, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 49 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Almedia, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Almedia, PA

51 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

Almedia, PA to Scranton, PA

56.9 mi · 1h 12m

Pacing Suggestions

Watsontown, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mifflinville, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.6 miles from South Williamsport, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Electrify America Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: 12–8 am

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

+18668167584

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Nescopeck, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 16.7 and 101.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
16.7 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
5
66.4 mi into trip | ~1h 19m 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
100.7 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in | Cedar Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
101.1 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in | Biden Street

Turn left onto Biden Street

Navigation decision point

5
101.3 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in | Wyoming Avenue

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.79 one way

$33.59 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $18.39 $36.79
premium $4.93 $19.65 $39.29
diesel $5.61 $22.37 $44.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.4 0 $10.64 $4.86
Efficient EV 25.3 0 $8.86 $4.05
EV Truck/SUV 40.5 0 $14.18 $6.48

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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 20, 2026

Origin

South Williamsport, PA

Morning in South Williamsport on Tuesday

Local time

7:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scranton, PA

Morning in Scranton on Tuesday

Local time

7:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

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

2h 4m 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 offers a mixed driving experience, with 44% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 49 miles on the Keystone Shortway, providing a good opportunity for consistent travel. The drive will likely transition between the efficiency of interstates and the character of U.S. highways. Expect a drive that balances speed with moments of varied scenery as you traverse Pennsylvania. The mix suggests you won't be solely on monotonous interstate but will also experience different road types.

44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49 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 around 16.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 101.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 100.7 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

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 2h 4m. Total distance: 101.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49 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 Scranton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 100.7 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Scranton, PA

Aliquippa, PA 329.1 mi · 6h 12m Palmer, PA 311.4 mi · 6h 24m Chartiers, PA 309.4 mi · 6h 17m Brownsville, PA 300.5 mi · 6h 3m

More from South Williamsport, PA

Haverford, PA 168.7 mi · 3h 21m Bethlehem, PA 124 mi · 2h 42m

More trips to Scranton, PA

Mount Carmel, PA 382.5 mi Cambridge Springs, PA 324.2 mi Newtown, PA 320.7 mi Point Marion, PA 315.9 mi West Mayfield, PA 314.4 mi Fernway, PA 313.8 mi
Escape planner: South Williamsport, PA Scenic drives in PA

Explore more options from South Williamsport, PA or browse trips ending in Scranton, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.