This 276.6-mile journey from Swissvale, PA, to the City of Scranton, PA, is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 5 hours and 37 minutes of driving time. You'll be covering ground primarily on the Keystone Shortway and I-99, with a portion on William Penn Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, this drive offers a mixed terrain experience. It's a manageable trip for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The route stays within the Northeast region, making it a straightforward transit through Pennsylvania.
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
138.3 miles from Swissvale, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.6 mi
1h 25m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
7.9 mi
10m
River Street
1 mi
1m
South Braddock Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swissvale, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Columbia Avenue
59 ft·6 sec·Columbia Avenue
2
Turn left onto Westmoreland Avenue
0.2 mi·49 sec·Westmoreland Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Green Belt
512 ft·21 sec·South Braddock Avenue
4
Continue on South Braddock Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·South Braddock Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
6
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
7.9 mi·10 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 22
45 mi·1 hr 5 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
12
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
15
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
16
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
18
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
20
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Swissvale in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow ample time for the roughly 5.5-hour travel time to Scranton. With only one recommended stop, plan your break strategically, perhaps during the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer, less populated sections, as the estimated fuel cost is $46. Since this is a feasible one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best, but an early start ensures a relaxed arrival.
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 138.3 miles from Swissvale, PA, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 61 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.3 miles or 2h 59m 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 36m
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 Swissvale, 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 Swissvale, PA
This is one driving day of about 276.6 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Swissvale, 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 99.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 276.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
6
126.3 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
142.6 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
276.4 mi into trip|~5h 37m 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
$45.86 one way
$91.71 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$50.22
$100.45
premium
$4.93
$53.64
$107.29
diesel
$5.61
$61.07
$122.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83
1
$29.04
$13.28
Efficient EV
69.2
0
$24.20
$11.06
EV Truck/SUV
110.6
1
$38.72
$17.70
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Swissvale, PA
Afternoon
in Swissvale on Sunday
Local time
12:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
12:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph8% 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
29 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 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 57.2
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 57.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 35% of it being on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving interspersed with other road types. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 99.3 miles along the Keystone Shortway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. This highway share suggests a balance between efficient travel and more varied road conditions, so you won't be solely on monotonous interstate for the entire 5-hour trip.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.2 miles in near Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 276.6 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 0.2 miles (Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 84.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Swissvale, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
84 mi in|~1h 58m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 37m. Total distance: 276.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 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.
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. 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: at 0.2 miles (Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 84.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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.
