Origin
West Kittanning, PA
Morning in West Kittanning on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Kittanning, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 2m
Distance
256.2 mi
412 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 49m
★
6 AM
5h 2m
8 AM
5h 29m
10 AM
5h 12m
12 PM
5h 9m
3 PM
5h 13m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Kittanning, PA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
West Kittanning, PA to the City of Scranton, PA is 256.2 miles and takes about 5h 2m via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a driving experience that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads mixed with highway segments. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is best suited for those looking for a straightforward journey between these two points without needing an overnight stay.
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
128.1 miles from West Kittanning, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 180.6 mi | 3h 15m |
| PA 28 | 37 mi | 54m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Millenium Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Butler Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Water Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Indiana Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 180.6 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Kittanning, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
142 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Southern Avenue
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Southern Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 422 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Butler Road
4
Continue on US 422 Business
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Kittanning Citizens Bridge
5
Turn right onto US 422 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Water Street
6
Turn left onto US 422 Business
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Indiana Road
7
Continue on Millenium Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Millenium Drive
8
Turn sharp right onto Clearfield Pike
467 ft
·
21 sec
·
Clearfield Pike
9
Turn left onto PA 28; PA 66
37 mi
·
54 min
·
PA 28; PA 66
10
Take the ramp onto PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
PA 28 Truck
11
Merge onto I 80; PA 28 Truck
181 mi
·
3 hr 15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward 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 this is a one-day drive of just over 5 hours, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the route is only 27% highway and involves local roads where gas stations might be less frequent. The longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway is over 180 miles, so topping off your tank before heading onto that segment would be a wise move. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs, ensuring you arrive in Scranton refreshed.
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 128.1 miles from West Kittanning, PA, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 56 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.1 miles or 2h 37m 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 5m
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 West Kittanning, 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 West Kittanning, PA
This is one driving day of about 256.2 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from West Kittanning, 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 180.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 128.1 miles from West Kittanning, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 180.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 256 — 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
|
Southern Avenue
Turn right onto Southern Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 422 Business / Butler Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 422 Business / Butler Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Clearfield Pike
Turn sharp right onto Clearfield Pike
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
221.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 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
256 mi into trip
|
~5h 1m 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
$42.47 one way
$84.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $46.52 | $93.04 |
| premium | $4.93 | $49.69 | $99.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.57 | $113.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.9 | 0 | $26.90 | $12.30 |
| Efficient EV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.42 | $10.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.5 | 1 | $35.87 | $16.40 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live 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
11 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
5h 2m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a dynamic experience, with only 27% of the route on highways. You'll primarily navigate what's described as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you should anticipate a good number of intersections and varying speed limits. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 180.6 miles along the Keystone Shortway, which provides a substantial period of more consistent travel before you transition back to more local road conditions. Be prepared for the road to change character multiple times throughout the 5-hour journey.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Southern Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 422 Business / Butler Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (Clearfield Pike): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 256.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (27%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.6 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.
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: near the start (Southern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 422 Business / Butler Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (Clearfield Pike): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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Return Trip
City of Scranton, PA to West Kittanning, PAPlan the drive back the other way.
256.1 mi
5h 1m
Continue From City of Scranton, PA
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