This 104.9-mile journey from Spring City, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused drive, you'll spend about 78% of your time on major roadways, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81. Given its manageable length and efficient route, it's well-suited as a day trip. Expect a fuel cost of around $17 for this northeast to northeast Pennsylvania excursion. The route offers a straightforward path, making it a practical choice for getting between these two locations without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Spring City, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
For this 104.9-mile trip, departing in the morning will allow you to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. Since it’s a 2 hour and 17 minute drive with no planned stops, you can easily complete it in one day. Factor in the estimated $17 fuel cost and ensure your tank is sufficiently full before heading out. A practical tip: consider downloading offline maps for I-81, as cellular service can sometimes be inconsistent in certain sections of Pennsylvania.
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 52.4 miles from Spring City, PA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.1 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 23 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Spring City, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Spring City, PA
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Spring City, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 74.1 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 104.7 — 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|Hall Street
Turn right onto Hall Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Church Street
Turn left onto North Church Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto North Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
20 mi into trip|~40m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Turn right onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
104.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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
$17.39 one way
$34.78 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.05
$38.09
premium
$4.93
$20.34
$40.69
diesel
$5.61
$23.16
$46.32
Estimated Tolls: $9.63
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(74.1 mi)$9.63
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.69
$6.71
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 16, 2026
Origin
Spring City, PA
Morning
in Spring City on Tuesday
Local time
7:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Tuesday
Local time
7:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
24 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 17m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 78% of the journey on major roads. You'll encounter stretches designed for steady progress, including a significant 74.1-mile segment on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. While predominantly a high-speed experience, the inclusion of Upper Ridge Road suggests a potential shift in pace towards the end of your drive. The profile is best described as highway-focused, indicating a focus on efficiency rather than winding backroads or frequent town navigations. Be prepared for a consistent driving rhythm for the majority of the trip.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hall Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 104.9 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: near the start (Hall Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Spring City, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Scranton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.63 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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.
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: near the start (Hall Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, First State National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
