This 272.9-mile drive from Wrightsville, PA to Scranton, PA will take you approximately 5 hours and 48 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a portion on PA 948, this route is best tackled in a single day, especially given its moderate distance. You can expect to spend around $45 on fuel for this trip. The journey offers a mix of driving experiences as you travel north through Pennsylvania. With only one recommended stop, the focus is on efficient travel.
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
136.4 miles from Wrightsville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
148.6 mi
2h 40m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15.5 mi
22m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
Warren Bypass
8.6 mi
12m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Hoovertown Road
5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 148.6 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,116 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,517
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Wrightsville, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Bull Hill Road
111 ft·8 sec·Bull Hill Road
2
Turn left onto PA 958
0.9 mi·1 min·PA 958
3
Merge onto US 6
8.1 mi·11 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
4
Continue on US 6; PA 27
1.4 mi·2 min·Youngsville Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 6
8.6 mi·12 min·Warren Bypass
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
10
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
11
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
12
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
13
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
14
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
15
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
16
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
17
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
18
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
19
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
20
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
21
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
22
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
23
Merge onto I 80
149 mi·2 hr 40 min·Keystone Shortway
24
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
25
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
27
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
28
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
30
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
31
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 48-minute journey, starting early in the morning will give you ample daylight and flexibility. While the route data suggests only one stop, consider breaking up the 148.6-mile longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto PA 948, as services might be less frequent on that segment. With a manageable duration, you have the advantage of flexibility in your pacing for this trip.
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 136.4 miles from Wrightsville, PA, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.6 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 60 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.4 miles or 3h 13m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wrightsville, 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 Wrightsville, PA
This is one driving day of about 272.9 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Wrightsville, 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 148.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 31 and 272.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
31 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward PA 666 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 666 West
5
238 mi into trip|~5h 3m 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
272.3 mi into trip|~5h 46m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
272.7 mi into trip|~5h 47m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
272.9 mi into trip|~5h 47m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.51 one way
$87.03 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$48.16
$96.31
premium
$4.81
$51.66
$103.32
diesel
$4.80
$51.53
$103.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.9
1
$28.65
$13.10
Efficient EV
68.2
0
$23.88
$10.92
EV Truck/SUV
109.2
1
$38.21
$17.47
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Wrightsville, PA
Morning
in Wrightsville on Monday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Smoke
S 6 mph73% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Monday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Areas Of Smoke
SE 0 to 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM 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
1 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 48m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive with a 22% highway share. While there's a significant 148.6-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, the overall character suggests a route that frequently transitions between faster road segments and more winding local roads. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; you'll be actively navigating and adjusting your speed as the landscape and road conditions change. The drive will likely feel dynamic, requiring your attention as you move through various stretches of Pennsylvania.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 272.9 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 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 238 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 272.3 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Scranton is a city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is near Wilkes-Barre, and is the seventh most populous city in the state. Today, it is perhaps best known as the setting of the hit TV show "The Office" and the birthplace of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.
Top landmarks
•St. Peter's Cathedral — historic church in Pennsylvania, United States
•Steamtown National Historic Site — railroad museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania
•Albright Memorial Building — library in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 272.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 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 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 238 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 272.3 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scranton, PA before the return drive.
