Vanport, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is 321.1 miles and takes about 6h 2m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. While the majority of the drive is on surface roads, you'll encounter some highway cruising. Plan for a single-day trip, as the estimated driving time is well within a typical day's travel, making it a straightforward point-to-point excursion.
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
160.5 miles from Vanport, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
244.4 mi
4h 23m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Beaver Valley Expressway
28.3 mi
31m
Mercer-New Wilmington Road
6.3 mi
8m
PA 158
2.4 mi
4m
Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi
1m
Glen Road
1.1 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 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,070 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,484
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Vanport, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Maplewood Avenue
70 ft·10 sec·Maplewood Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto PA 68
0.2 mi·19 sec·State Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 376 West: New Castle
4
Merge onto I 376
28 mi·31 min·Beaver Valley Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward PA 18
6
Turn right onto Mitchell Road
460 ft·10 sec·Mitchell Road
7
Turn left onto Glen Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Glen Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto PA 18
0.8 mi·1 min·Wilmington Road
9
Turn right onto PA 158
2.4 mi·4 min·PA 158
10
Turn right onto Beechwood Road
0.2 mi·44 sec·Beechwood Road
11
Turn left onto PA 956
0.8 mi·1 min·South Market Street
12
Continue on PA 158
6.3 mi·8 min·Mercer-New Wilmington Road
13
Turn right onto Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Steingrabe Road
14
Turn right onto US 19
0.1 mi·10 sec·South Erie Street
15
Continue on US 19
0.2 mi·24 sec·Perry Highway
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
17
Merge onto I 80
244 mi·4 hr 23 min·Keystone Shortway
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
19
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
21
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over six hours, leaving in the morning should allow you to reach Scranton with daylight to spare. You have flexibility with only one recommended stop, so consider breaking up the 244.4-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $54, and service areas might be less frequent on the non-highway sections. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you can adjust your pace as needed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.5 miles from Vanport, PA, or about 3h 2m 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 71 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.5 miles or 3h 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 4h 53m
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 Vanport, 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 Vanport, PA
This is one driving day of about 321.1 miles and 6h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Vanport, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 320.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 68 / State Avenue
Turn sharp left onto PA 68 / State Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 376 West: New Castle
Navigation decision point
Toward I 376 West: New Castle
6
42.1 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Clarion
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
5
286.6 mi into trip|~5h 18m 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
320.9 mi into trip|~6h 2m 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
$56.08 one way
$112.16 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$61.40
$122.80
premium
$5.20
$65.69
$131.37
diesel
$6.28
$79.34
$158.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.3
1
$33.72
$15.41
Efficient EV
80.3
0
$28.10
$12.84
EV Truck/SUV
128.4
1
$44.95
$20.55
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Vanport, PA
Night
in Vanport on Friday
Local time
9:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
N 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Night
in City of Scranton on Friday
Local time
9:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
NE 1 to 13 mph0% 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
3 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
6h 2m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 features a 20% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. You'll cover a significant 244.4 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After that, expect a transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. The dense exit count on the highway portion might be noticeable as you transition between major arteries.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 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 PA 68 / State Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 2m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 68 / State Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 42.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,146 ft593 ft
Total Climb
2,261 ft
Total Descent
2,279 ft
Highest Point
2,146 ft
~137.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,553 ft
Notable High Points
2,146 ft at ~137.6 miles+580 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 2m. Total distance: 321.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 68 / State Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 42.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 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.
