Trip from City of Scranton, PA to Old Forge, PA

Drive Time

3h 51m

Distance

182.8 mi

294 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 39m ★

6 AM

3h 51m

8 AM

4h 17m

10 AM

4h 0m

12 PM

3h 58m

3 PM

4h 2m

5 PM

4h 16m

8 PM

3h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Scranton to Old Forge, prepare for a surprisingly lengthy trek covering 182.8 miles. While these two Pennsylvania cities are relatively close, this specific route takes you on a 3-hour and 51-minute journey through the Northeast region. Because the drive is manageable within a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stay to complete it. Budgeting about $30 for fuel will get you from start to finish, though you should plan for at least one stop along the way. This path is ideal if you prefer a turn-heavy local driving experience over the standard interstate commute.

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

91.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a technical ride, as this route contains absolutely no highway travel, resulting in a 0% highway share. You will spend the vast majority of your time—162.9 miles to be exact—navigating the American Legion Memorial Highway. The journey transitions through Black Gap Road and Rocky Mountain Road, which keeps the driving engaging and requires your full attention. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should anticipate a constant pace that demands frequent steering rather than long, monotonous stretches of cruise control. It is a hands-on experience that rewards drivers who enjoy the nuances of local road navigation.

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 162.9 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 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 9 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 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These 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

4

1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp

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.

5

170.5 mi into trip | ~3h 26m in | US 30 / Lincoln Way East

At end of road, turn left onto US 30 / Lincoln Way East

Navigation decision point

5

172.7 mi into trip | ~3h 29m in | PA 233 / Rocky Mountain Road

Turn right onto PA 233 / Rocky Mountain Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from City of Scranton, PA to Old Forge, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Scotland along the way.

Scotland

165.1 mi in | ~3h 16m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway	162.9 mi	3h 13m
Black Gap Road	5.2 mi	9m
Rocky Mountain Road	4.2 mi	7m
Old Forge Road	4.1 mi	9m
Lincoln Way East	2.2 mi	3m
South Mountain Road	1.8 mi	4m
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge	0.9 mi	1m
River Street	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: American Legion Memorial Highway — 162.9 mi, about 3h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between City of Scranton, PA and Old Forge, 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

45 mi · 53 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward Scotland

9

Turn left onto PA 997

5.2 mi · 9 min · Black Gap Road

10

At end of road, turn left onto US 30

2.2 mi · 3 min · Lincoln Way East

11

Turn right onto PA 233

4.2 mi · 7 min · Rocky Mountain Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

12

At end of road, turn left onto South Mountain Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · South Mountain Road

13

Turn right onto Old Forge Road

4.1 mi · 9 min · Old Forge Road

14

Arrive at destination

Old Forge Road

Trip Plan

Since this is a one-day trip, your best bet is to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours on the local roads. Given the 3-hour and 51-minute duration, scheduling a single stop is essential to break up the drive and keep your focus sharp. Watch your fuel gauge closely, as the $30 estimate assumes steady driving conditions, and local roads can sometimes impact your actual consumption. Because you are navigating turn-heavy segments like Black Gap Road, ensure you are comfortable with frequent changes in direction before heading out. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so keep an eye on your pace to ensure you reach Old Forge comfortably by the end of the day.

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 91.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.9 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 91.4 miles or 1h 48m 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 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Old Forge, 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 182.8 miles and 3h 51m.

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 162.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 91.4 mi from City of Scranton, PA · 1h 48m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ithaca, NY

91 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.4 miles from City of Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before American Legion Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 162.9 miles.

Arriving in Old Forge, PA

The final approach into Old Forge, 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 Old Forge, 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

$30.25 one way

$60.50 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$33.10	$66.20
premium	$4.92	$35.42	$70.85
diesel	$5.64	$40.61	$81.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	54.8	$19.19	$8.77
Efficient EV	45.7	$16.00	$7.31
EV Truck/SUV	73.1	$25.59	$11.70

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

City of Scranton, PA

Night in City of Scranton on Sunday

Local time

9:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Old Forge, PA

Night in Old Forge on Sunday

Local time

9:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

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 51m 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 Old Forge, PA covers 182.8 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are American Legion Memorial Highway, Black Gap Road, Rocky Mountain Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 91.4 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 $30.25 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 51m drive. You will face about 9 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 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from City of Scranton, PA to Old Forge, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Scotland along the way.