Allentown, PA to Ransom, PA is 73.2 miles and takes about 1h 37m via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region on both ends. Expect a mostly highway-focused drive that's straightforward and efficient for a same-day journey. Given its relatively short duration and manageable fuel cost, it's a practical option for a quick trip between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Since this is a single-day trip covering 73.2 miles and just under two hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Allentown in the morning allows you to reach Ransom with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you'll want to ensure your tank is sufficiently full before heading out, as stops are not a planned feature of this route and the longest stretch on the Turnpike is substantial. Keep an eye on the toll pass if you are using one, as this route utilizes a toll road.
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 36.6 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 45m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ransom, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Allentown, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Allentown, PA
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Allentown, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 57 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 65.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 476, PATP
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476, PATP
7
4.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
5
62.3 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
5
63 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 315 South: Wilkes-Barre
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 315 South: Wilkes-Barre
7
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|US 11 / William Street
Turn sharp left onto US 11 / William Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.14 one way
$24.27 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.29
$26.58
premium
$4.93
$14.20
$28.39
diesel
$5.61
$16.16
$32.32
Estimated Tolls: $7.41
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(57 mi)$7.41
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Allentown, PA
Afternoon
in Allentown on Saturday
Local time
3:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Sunny
SE 0 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ransom, PA
Afternoon
in Ransom on Saturday
Local time
3:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Hudson, PA
37 mi in
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
31 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
1h 37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 leans heavily into highway driving, with 78% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 57 miles uninterrupted on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, offering a consistent pace. The initial and final segments involve local roads like Tilghman Street and Coxton Road, providing a brief contrast before and after the main highway portion. Overall, expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency rather than winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Tilghman Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
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 73.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 4.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Allentown, PA and Ransom, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Scranton.
Patp
4.5 mi in|~7m
Scranton
62.3 mi in|~1h 13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Allentown, PA to Ransom, PA covers 73.2 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Tilghman Street, Coxton Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.6 miles from Allentown, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Allentown, PA and Ransom, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Scranton.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
