Sunbury, PA to City of Scranton, PA is 86.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 46 minutes via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward connection between two points. The route balances highway cruising with some surface road driving, making it a manageable drive for most vehicles. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two areas without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Sunbury, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
35.5 mi
39m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Point Township Drive
8.1 mi
11m
Continental Boulevard
2.6 mi
3m
Northumberland Street
2.1 mi
3m
North Front Street
1.3 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Water Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 35.5 mi, about 39m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,252 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,796
Quietest
2 AM
~206 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Sunbury, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
67 ft·3 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto PA 61
0.1 mi·11 sec·Market Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto PA 405
1.3 mi·2 min·North Front Street
4
Turn left onto PA 405
0.7 mi·1 min·Bridge Avenue
5
Continue on PA 405
0.1 mi·17 sec·King Street
6
Turn right onto US 11
0.9 mi·1 min·Water Street
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 11
8.1 mi·11 min·Point Township Drive
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 11
2.1 mi·3 min·Northumberland Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto PA 54
2.6 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
11
Merge onto I 80
35 mi·39 min·Keystone Shortway
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
13
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
15
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 46 minute duration, this route is easily completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning can help you avoid potential rush hour traffic in either Sunbury or Scranton. While there are no specific stops recommended in the data, the relatively short distance means you can easily pull over if needed for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you approach the 35.5-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably with the estimated $14 fuel cost.
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 Sunbury, PA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.5 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 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 53m 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 29m
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 Sunbury, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sunbury, PA
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Sunbury, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 35.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 61 / Market Street
Turn right onto PA 61 / Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 405 / North Front Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 405 / North Front Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.3 mi into trip|~3m in|US 11 / Water Street
Turn right onto US 11 / Water Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
51.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m 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
86 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.87 one way
$27.73 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$15.61
$31.22
premium
$4.95
$16.81
$33.62
diesel
$5.98
$20.29
$40.59
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.
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 25, 2026
Origin
Sunbury, PA
Evening
in Sunbury on Sunday
Local time
5:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Rain
SE 9 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Evening
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
5:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Rain Showers
SE 6 to 10 mph98% chanceLive 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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 38% of this 86.2-mile drive is on highways. You'll experience a 35.5-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a mixed driving experience, shifting from potentially faster highway speeds to more localized surface roads with varying traffic patterns. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely involve changes in speed limits and exit frequency.
38% 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: 35.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 61 / Market Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 86.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 61 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (PA 405 / North Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (US 11 / Water Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
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.
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 (PA 61 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (PA 405 / North Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (US 11 / Water Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
