Wilkes-Barre, PA Road Trips
With 4 routes heading out and 1 heading in, Wilkes-Barre, PA works well as a modest departure point in the Northeast. Most drives stay under 107 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Routes from Wilkes-Barre, PA spread mainly east and south, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
326.9 mi
Erie, PA
Quickest Drive
27m
City of Scranton, PA
Plan Around Wilkes-Barre, PA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Wilkes-Barre, PA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Wilkes-Barre, PA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Wilkes-Barre, PA
Driving from Wilkes-Barre, PA
Expect an average of 107 miles and about 2h 4m behind the wheel when leaving Wilkes-Barre, PA. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 327 miles (6h 2m), while the shortest is just 19 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Wilkes-Barre, PA most often head toward Erie, PA (326.9 mi, 6h 2m), Allentown, PA (62.3 mi, 1h 18m), Scranton, PA (19.5 mi, 28m), and City of Scranton, PA (19.1 mi, 27m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in PA currently averages around $4.09 per gallon. For the typical 107-mile trip from Wilkes-Barre, PA, budget about $17 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Wilkes-Barre, PA and 1 routes heading into Wilkes-Barre, PA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 19 to 327 miles.
The longest mapped route from Wilkes-Barre, PA covers 327 miles and takes approximately 6h 2m. Shorter options start at just 19 miles.
The average route from Wilkes-Barre, PA runs about 107 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 4m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $4.09/gallon for regular), the average 107-mile trip from Wilkes-Barre, PA costs roughly $17 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Wilkes-Barre, PA include Erie, PA, Allentown, PA, Scranton, PA and City of Scranton, PA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Wilkes-Barre, PA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
44,217
Median Income
$47,970
Median Home Value
$108,000
Median Age
35.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre (the last part is variously pronounced "Berry", "Bury", "Bare", or "Berrah" by locals, and "Barry" or "Barr" by others) is a city of 41,000 people (2018) in Northeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles southwest of Scranton. The city is named for John Wilkes and Isaac Barre, both of whom were members of the British Parliament who opposed royal rule of the colonies. Although the city is named after them, neither one ever set foot in North America.
If you drive outside the city, you may see steam rising from the ventilation shafts of the old coal mines.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL hockey), Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. The Pittsburgh Penguins' minor league hockey affiliate. They play home games from October through April. Check the website for tickets and dates. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (AAA baseball), PNC Field, Moosic. The highest level minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. They play home games from April through August. Check website for tickets and dates. 1 Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, ☏ +1 570 831-2100. Casino, 1280 Highway 315. 1,100 slots casino, table gaming, harness racing track, five restaurants. Open 24/7, with racing M Tu F Sa from 31 Mar. to 17 Nov. Free admission/parking. (updated Mar 2017) You can catch an ice hockey game or concert at the Wachovia Arena. Kings College and Wilkes University often feature art exhibits in their libraries. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders AAA baseball team plays 15 minutes north near Montage Mountain, which also features a major concert venue and skiing in the winter. F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, 71 Public Square, ☏ +1 570-826-1100. Art deco theater circa 1938 with lineup of performing arts events. Seven Tubs Recreation Area, 900 Bear Creek Blvd. Notable river with bedrock pools and cascades where people enjoy exploring. Free.
This area is known for its many authentic diner car restaurants. La Tolteca, near the mall, is popular for Mexican. Pete's Place downtown has very reasonably priced Lebanese food, with fish on Fridays for the local Catholic population. Wilkes-Barre is at the northeast frontier of the Pierogi Belt. Mom & Pops Pierogi on 131 Casey Ave, Wilkes Barre Township ☏ +1 570-825-9303 sells fresh and frozen ravioli (and pasties) to go; the adjacent Abe's Hot Dogs serves the same pierogi prepared with butter and onion.
There are quite a few choices for night life. Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre features a few college bars. Furthermore, there are corner bars all throughout the city, and a few alternative bars. There is karaoke almost every night of the week, often hosted by DJ Scott Stephens.
1 Woodlands Inn and Resort, 1073 Highway 315, ☏ +1 570-824-9831. (updated Sep 2016)
The easiest way to arrive in Wilkes-Barre is via the highway. The following highways connect Wilkes-Barre to other regional cities: I-476 south to (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) Allentown & Philadelphia. I-81 north to Scranton & Binghamton and I-81 south to Harrisburg. I-476 is tolled from mile 20 to 115. The city is also about 15 minutes south of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP IATA) in Avoca. The airport operates daily flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Detroit, Newark, and Philadelphia. Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Hertz, National, and Alamo at the terminal. Take I-81 south to Exit 170B. Wilkes-Barre is also within three hours driving distance from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, JFK International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport in New York City, Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Harrisburg Int'l Airport in Harrisburg, and Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. Martz offers long distance services to and from Philadelphia and New York City. 1 Martz Trailways Bus Terminal is located downtown on 47 S Washington St. Greyhound and other bus services operate from the same terminal, serving upstate New York, Toronto, Baltimore, Washington DC, the Midwest and West, and many other cities. Uptown Vans offers service from Paterson and New York City, with door-to-door service available throughout the city of Wilkes-Barre.
Public transportation is available through busses run by Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA), which also travel to other points throughout Luzerne County, and several local taxi services.
Travel tips adapted from Wilkes-Barre on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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