Williamsport to Scranton is 101 miles and takes about 2 hours via Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two cities in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward trip that offers a mixed driving experience, making it suitable for a single-day excursion. You'll find the journey efficient for getting from point A to point B without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.6 miles from Williamsport, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
49 mi
53m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
US Highway 15
11.7 mi
16m
Westbranch Highway
2.9 mi
3m
Montgomery Pike
1.3 mi
2m
Market Street
1.1 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 49 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Williamsport, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Market Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Market Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn slight left onto US 15
1.3 mi·2 min·Montgomery Pike
3
Continue on US 15
12 mi·16 min·US Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 15
2.9 mi·3 min·Westbranch Highway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 80 East: BloomsburgUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
7
Merge onto I 80
49 mi·53 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
9
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
11
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a 2-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it’s a budget-friendly trip, but it's always wise to ensure you have enough gas before embarking, especially since the longest stretch without a major road change is 49 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition between the Keystone Shortway and I-81.
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 50.6 miles from Williamsport, PA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.6 miles or 1h 3m 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 41m
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 Williamsport, 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 Williamsport, PA
This is one driving day of about 101.2 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Williamsport, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 49 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101 — 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|Market Street
Depart onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
17 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
4
17.4 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
66.8 mi into trip|~1h 20m 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
101 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
$16.78 one way
$33.56 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.38
$36.75
premium
$4.93
$19.63
$39.25
diesel
$5.61
$22.34
$44.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
EV Truck/SUV
40.5
0
$14.17
$6.48
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Williamsport, PA
Morning
in Williamsport on Sunday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
8:14 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
8 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
2h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 mixed drive, with 44% of it being highway. You'll experience stretches on the Keystone Shortway and I-81, offering periods of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is approximately 49 miles on the Keystone Shortway. As you progress, expect the character of the drive to shift between faster highway sections and potentially more varied road conditions.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 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 101.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Market Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 101.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Market Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
