Origin
Arnold, PA
Late night in Arnold on Wednesday
Local time
1:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arnold, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
5h 30m
Distance
279.2 mi
449 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 17m
★
6 AM
5h 30m
8 AM
5h 57m
10 AM
5h 40m
12 PM
5h 37m
3 PM
5h 41m
5 PM
5h 56m
8 PM
5h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arnold, PA
Simeon Mirkov
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 279.2-mile drive from Arnold, PA to the City of Scranton, PA takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll be navigating primarily on the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with some time on PA 28. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $46. Since both locations are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you won't be crossing state lines or drastically different terrains. This route offers a mixed driving experience and is well-suited for a single day's adventure, allowing for a good pace without feeling rushed.
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
139.6 miles from Arnold, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 33% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 180.6 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a more continuous highway experience. The drive transitions between different road types, so be prepared for shifts in speed and scenery as you move from PA 28 to the Keystone Shortway and finally to I-81. This variety keeps the drive engaging, avoiding a monotonous feel while still covering substantial mileage efficiently.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 180.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 279.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.2 miles (PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road
Turn left onto PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge onto PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, In...
7
279 mi into trip
|
~5h 30m 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 Arnold, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
Indiana
21.3 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 180.6 mi | 3h 15m |
| PA 28 | 36.7 mi | 54m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Allegheny Valley Expressway | 17.9 mi | 20m |
| US 422 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Tarentum Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Freeport Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 180.6 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arnold, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Constitution Boulevard
104 ft
·
8 sec
·
Constitution Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Drey Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Drey Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Freeport Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Freeport Road
4
Turn left onto PA 366
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Tarentum Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on PA 366; Red Belt
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Ross Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on PA 366; Red Belt
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Bull Creek Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto PA 28
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
10
Merge onto US 422; PA 28
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
US 422; PA 28
11
Continue on PA 28; PA 66
37 mi
·
54 min
·
PA 28; PA 66
12
Take the ramp onto PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
PA 28 Truck
13
Merge onto I 80; PA 28 Truck
181 mi
·
3 hr 15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
15
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
17
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 30-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Arnold, PA, to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the 180.6-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, where services might be more spread out. The $46 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Enjoy the straightforward journey across Pennsylvania.
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 139.6 miles from Arnold, PA, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 80 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.6 miles or 2h 52m 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 29m
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 Arnold, 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 Arnold, PA
This is one driving day of about 279.2 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arnold, 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 180.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 139.6 mi from Arnold, PA · 2h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 139.6 miles from Arnold, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 180.6 miles.
Arriving in City of Scranton, PA
The final approach into City of Scranton, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around City of Scranton, PA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.29 one way
$92.58 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $50.70 | $101.39 |
| premium | $4.93 | $54.15 | $108.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.64 | $123.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.8 | 1 | $29.32 | $13.40 |
| Efficient EV | 69.8 | 0 | $24.43 | $11.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.7 | 1 | $39.09 | $17.87 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Late night in City of Scranton on Wednesday
Local time
1:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 30m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arnold, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 279.2 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, PA 28, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 139.6 miles from Arnold, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 279.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.2 miles (PA 366 / Tarentum Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (PA 28 / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Arnold, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
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