Origin
Allentown, PA
Late night in Allentown on Friday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Allentown, PA to Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
73.5 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 73.5-mile drive from Allentown, PA to Scranton, PA takes approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily use the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81, with a short section on Tilghman Street. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this route is quite economical. Given its manageable length and duration, it fits comfortably within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, making it an easy excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 73.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 89% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience long stretches of efficient travel, including a significant 57-mile segment on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. This means you can expect a relatively smooth and uninterrupted experience for the majority of your trip. While the route is largely high-speed, be mindful of the transition onto I-81 and any potential traffic as you approach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 4.9 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; at 63 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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 right at fork toward PA 315 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
5
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
7
72.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Allentown, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Patp
4.5 mi in
|
~7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 57 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 81 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Tilghman Street | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Biden Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Adams Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 57 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Tilghman Street
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Tilghman Street
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476, PATP
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 476; PATP
57 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
7
Merge onto PA 315
523 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chestnut Street
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
9
Merge onto I 81
8.2 mi
·
9 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
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
14
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
15
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.8 mi from Allentown, PA · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Scranton, PA
The final approach into Scranton, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.19 one way
$24.37 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.35 | $26.69 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.25 | $28.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.23 | $32.46 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$7
Total
$20
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.72 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night in Scranton on Friday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 to 6 mph
51% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 7:23PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Allentown, PA to Scranton, PA covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, I 81, Tilghman Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.8 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 $12.19 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 73.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 4.9 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; at 63 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Allentown, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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