Origin
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Scranton, PA to Charlestown, PA
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
189.6 mi
305 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Charlestown, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
Traveling from Scranton to Charlestown covers 189.6 miles across the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 3 hours and 56 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. With a fuel budget of about $31, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily navigate via the American Legion Memorial Highway, Lincoln Way East, and Mountain Road. Since the entire route remains within the state of Pennsylvania, it offers a consistent regional experience without the need for complex interstate transitions. It is a straightforward trip that fits comfortably into a weekend itinerary.
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
94.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend the vast majority of your time—167.1 miles to be exact—on the American Legion Memorial Highway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Because the path relies on local roads, you will experience a more hands-on driving environment that requires constant attention to the road's curves and transitions. The character of the drive shifts as you move from the American Legion Memorial Highway onto Lincoln Way East and Mountain Road. Prepare for a rhythmic, winding experience that demands more engagement than a standard highway commute.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
American Legion Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 167.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near River Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
River Street
Turn left onto River Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
169.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward Lincoln Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Lincoln Way
5
184.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 47m in
|
PA 75 / Fort Loudon Road
Turn sharp left onto PA 75 / Fort Loudon Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
189.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
|
PA 16 / Buchanan Trail West
Turn sharp left onto PA 16 / Buchanan Trail West
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 167.1 mi | 3h 18m |
| Lincoln Way East | 15.2 mi | 25m |
| Mountain Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| George N. Wade Memorial Bridge | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Fort Loudon Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Buchanan Trail West | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 167.1 mi, about 3h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Scranton, PA and Charlestown, PA.
1
Start on Cedar Avenue
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
2
Continue on Cedar Avenue
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
3
Turn left onto River Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
5
Merge onto I 81
118 mi
·
2 hr 19 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on I 81
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the none lane.
7
Continue on I 81
49 mi
·
58 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Lincoln Way
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right onto US 30
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Lincoln Way East
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
14 mi
·
21 min
·
Lincoln Way East
11
Turn sharp left onto PA 75
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Loudon Road
12
Turn right onto Mountain Road
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Mountain Road
13
Turn sharp left onto PA 16
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Buchanan Trail West
14
Arrive at destination
PA 16
Trip Plan
Given the nearly four-hour duration, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic, especially since you are navigating local roads rather than major interstates. You only have one planned stop on this 189.6-mile trek, so choose your location wisely to maximize your rest periods. Keep in mind that the lack of highway segments means your travel speed will be dictated by the flow of local traffic, so remain flexible with your arrival time. Since you are spending roughly $31 on fuel, it is a good idea to check your levels before hitting the longer 167.1-mile stretch. Pace yourself, stay hydrated, and enjoy the technical nature of the drive by taking advantage of that single break to stretch your legs.
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 94.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.1 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.8 miles or 1h 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 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlestown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Scranton, 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 City of Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 189.6 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from City of Scranton, 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 167.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.8 mi from City of Scranton, PA · 1h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 94.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before American Legion Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 167.1 miles.
Arriving in Charlestown, PA
The final approach into Charlestown, 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 Charlestown, 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
$31.37 one way
$62.75 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $34.33 | $68.66 |
| premium | $4.92 | $36.74 | $73.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.12 | $84.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.91 | $9.10 |
| Efficient EV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.59 | $7.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.8 | 0 | $26.54 | $12.13 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Charlestown, PA
Afternoon in Charlestown on Sunday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Union, NY
95 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
5 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
3h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from City of Scranton, PA to Charlestown, PA covers 189.6 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are American Legion Memorial Highway, Lincoln Way East, Mountain Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.8 miles from City of Scranton, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.37 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from City of Scranton, PA to Charlestown, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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