Waterford, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is 304.9 miles and takes about 6h 9m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Pennsylvania, crossing the Northeast region. The profile is mostly surface roads, suggesting a less highway-intensive experience than some cross-state routes. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under seven hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
152.4 miles from Waterford, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
189 mi
3h 24m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Colonel Drake Highway
13.5 mi
19m
William Flinn Highway
12.4 mi
16m
Route 208
12.3 mi
18m
PA-97
6.9 mi
8m
Titusville Road
5.7 mi
8m
Main Street
5.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 189 mi, about 3h 24m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,513
Quietest
2 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
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 Waterford, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on US 19; PA 97
0.4 mi·52 sec·High Street
2
Continue on US 19; PA 97
0.2 mi·30 sec·Route 19
3
Enter roundabout onto PA 97
187 ft·2 sec·PA-97
4
Continue on PA 97
6.9 mi·8 min·PA-97
5
Continue on PA 97
0.5 mi·54 sec·Waterford Street
6
Turn straight onto PA 97
0.2 mi·25 sec·Perry Street
7
Turn right onto PA 8
0.8 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on PA 8
3.1 mi·4 min·Titusville Road
9
Continue on PA 8
7.8 mi·10 min·William Flinn Highway
10
Continue on PA 8
1.6 mi·2 min·Erie Street
11
Continue on PA 8
4.6 mi·6 min·William Flinn Highway
12
Continue on PA 8
3.0 mi·4 min·Hydetown Road
13
Continue on PA 8
1.3 mi·3 min·West Spring Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on PA 27
0.1 mi·21 sec·Diamond Street
15
Turn straight onto PA 27
2.1 mi·4 min·East Central Avenue
16
Continue on PA 27
2.6 mi·3 min·Titusville Road
17
Continue on PA 27; PA 227
1.3 mi·1 min·West State Street
18
Continue on PA 36
4.4 mi·6 min·Tionesta Road
19
Continue on PA 36
4.5 mi·6 min·Colonel Drake Highway
20
Turn left onto US 62; PA 36
0.3 mi·27 sec·Route 36 and 62
21
At end of road, turn right onto PA 36
0.5 mi·48 sec·Elm Street
22
Continue on PA 36
9.0 mi·13 min·Colonel Drake Highway
23
Continue on PA 208
5.0 mi·7 min·Route 208
24
Continue on PA 208
7.2 mi·10 min·Route 208
25
Continue on PA 208
0.4 mi·40 sec·North School Street
26
Turn left onto US 322
4.6 mi·6 min·Main Street
27
Continue on US 322
1.7 mi·2 min·West Main Street
28
Continue on US 322
1.6 mi·2 min·Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
29
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
30
Continue on US 322
4.1 mi·5 min·Route 322
31
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
32
Merge onto I 80
189 mi·3 hr 24 min·Keystone Shortway
33
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
34
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
36
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
37
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 6h 9m drive, consider an early morning departure from Waterford to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. While the route is manageable in one day, you'll want to pace yourself. The longest stretch without a major road change is 189 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Since you'll be on surface roads for a significant portion, keep an eye on local speed limits and be aware of potential traffic congestion in smaller towns along the way.
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 152.4 miles from Waterford, PA, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189 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 67 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.4 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 3m
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 Waterford, 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 Waterford, PA
This is one driving day of about 304.9 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Waterford, 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 189 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 304.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 97 / PA-97
Enter roundabout onto PA 97 / PA-97
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
8.3 mi into trip|~10m in|PA 8 / North Main Street
Turn right onto PA 8 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
46 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|PA 36 / Elm Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 36 / Elm Street
Navigation decision point
5
270.4 mi into trip|~5h 26m 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
304.7 mi into trip|~6h 9m 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
$53.66 one way
$107.32 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$58.68
$117.35
premium
$5.23
$62.73
$125.47
diesel
$6.18
$74.17
$148.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.5
1
$32.01
$14.64
Efficient EV
76.2
0
$26.68
$12.20
EV Truck/SUV
122
1
$42.69
$19.51
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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 18, 2026
Origin
Waterford, PA
Morning
in Waterford on Sunday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
31°F
Widespread Frost
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:11PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:21PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
31°F
Areas Of Frost
N 0 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:11PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:21PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 9m 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?
About 18% of this 304.9-mile route is on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway driving on the Keystone Shortway, covering 189 miles. After that, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. The profile indicates mostly surface roads, so anticipate more intersections and potentially slower speeds as you move away from the limited-access sections.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189 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 around 0.6 miles in near PA 97 / PA-97.
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 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (PA 97 / PA-97): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.3 miles (PA 8 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles (PA 36 / Elm Street): Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 304.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 189 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (PA 97 / PA-97): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.3 miles (PA 8 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles (PA 36 / Elm Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 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.
