Chester, PA to Scranton, PA is 127.9 miles and takes about 2h 32m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a fairly direct, highway-focused trip, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. With 96% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads, so pack some podcasts or audiobooks. Plan for this to be a straightforward transit between two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64 miles from Chester, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Chester is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Chester is a suburb of the city of Philadelphia. The current population estimate is 30,409. The city is predominantly made up of African Americans, making up 79% of the population. Chester is known for poverty and high crime, as almost 40% of residents live below the poverty line.
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 2h 32m. Total distance: 127.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highly highway-focused drive, with 96% of the 127.9 miles on major roadways. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 94.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The journey is primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81, suggesting smooth, high-speed travel for most of the 2h 32m duration. Expect a consistent road profile without many significant changes in terrain or road type.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 94.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. 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 PA 320 / Madison Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 127.9 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 (PA 320 / Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 13 Business / East 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 320 / Madison Street
Turn left onto PA 320 / Madison Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 13 Business / East 9th Street
Turn right onto US 13 Business / East 9th Street
Navigation decision point
7
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
7
2 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Given the relatively short duration of 2h 32m and the efficiency of highway travel, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid peak commuter traffic around Chester, PA. With only one major highway segment, you might not need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 94.9-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, as services can be spaced out. Your estimated fuel cost is around $21, so budget accordingly before you set off.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64 miles from Chester, PA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.9 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
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 Chester, 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 Chester, PA
This is one driving day of about 127.9 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Chester, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 94.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64 mi from Chester, PA
· 1h 18m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 17.6
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 8.8
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.20 one way
$42.41 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.22
$46.45
premium
$4.93
$24.80
$49.61
diesel
$5.61
$28.24
$56.48
Estimated Tolls: $12.34
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(94.9 mi)$12.34
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
$21
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
EV Truck/SUV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Chester, PA
Late night
in Chester on Saturday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
N 8 mph13% chanceLive 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
10 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
2h 32m 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 Chester, PA to Scranton, PA covers 127.9 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Mid-County Expressway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64 miles from Chester, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.20 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 127.9 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 (PA 320 / Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 13 Business / East 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chester, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
