Ben Avon to Scranton is 289.7 miles and takes about 5 hours 59 minutes via the Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and I-99, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with some local road sections. Given the roughly 6-hour travel time, it's a manageable one-day journey, making it ideal for those looking for an efficient way to cover ground across the state.
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
144.8 miles from Ben Avon, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 59m. Total distance: 289.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed bag of driving experiences, with 36% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and I-99, providing a varied pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, giving you a good segment of consistent driving. As you progress, the character of the road will shift between faster highway travel and potentially more winding or slower-paced sections as you transition between major routes.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 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 99.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Woodland Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 289.7 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 0.1 miles (Woodland Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Woodland Avenue
Turn sharp left onto Woodland Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
6.6 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Monroeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Downtown, Monroeville
8
6.8 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Downtown Pittsburgh
7
155.3 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
289.1 mi into trip|~5h 57m 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 Ben Avon, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
96.6 mi in|~2h 19m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.6 mi
1h 25m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.8 mi
19m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
Ohio River Boulevard
5.7 mi
10m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ben Avon, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Forest Avenue
518 ft·30 sec·Forest Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto Woodland Avenue
289 ft·13 sec·Woodland Avenue
3
Turn right onto Irwin Avenue
0.2 mi·38 sec·Irwin Avenue
4
Turn left onto PA 65
5.7 mi·10 min·Ohio River Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
328 ft·6 sec
Toward I 279 South: Downtown Pittsburgh, Fort Pitt Bridge, Airport, Monroeville
6
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·28 sec·this road
Exit 1B-CToward US 19, PA 65: North Shore, Ohio River Boulevard
7
Continue on I 279
0.2 mi·22 sec·Fort Duquesne Bridge
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Downtown, MonroevilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Downtown PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on Fort Pitt Boulevard
0.2 mi·20 sec·Fort Pitt Boulevard
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
12
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
14 mi·19 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 22
45 mi·1 hr 5 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
16
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
18
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
21
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
22
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
23
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
24
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
26
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
29
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
30
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Ben Avon to maximize daylight and give yourself ample time. With a 5-hour and 59-minute estimated duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing flexibility for spontaneous stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 99.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be more spread out. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and grab a refreshment, ensuring you arrive in Scranton feeling alert.
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 144.8 miles from Ben Avon, PA, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 64 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.8 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 55m
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 Ben Avon, 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 Ben Avon, PA
This is one driving day of about 289.7 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Ben Avon, 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 99.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144.8 mi from Ben Avon, PA
· 3h 13m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 69.9
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 69.9
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.9
1
$30.42
$13.91
Efficient EV
72.4
0
$25.35
$11.59
EV Truck/SUV
115.9
1
$40.56
$18.54
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Ben Avon, PA
Late night
in Ben Avon on Saturday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
3 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 59m 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 Ben Avon, PA to Scranton, PA covers 289.7 miles and takes about 5h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, I 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144.8 miles from Ben Avon, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.03 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 is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 289.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Woodland Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Ben Avon, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial.
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.
