Trip from City of Scranton, PA to Philadelphia, PA

Drive Time

2h

Distance

124.6 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from City of Scranton, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers 124.6 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Cedar Avenue, River Street, American Legion Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.04 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

62.3 miles from City of Scranton, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h drive with frequent turns across 124.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Cedar Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Cedar Avenue	0 mi	0m
River Street	0 mi	0m
American Legion Memorial Highway	0 mi	0m
PA 315 South	0 mi	0m
I 476	0 mi	0m
I 476 South	0 mi	0m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension	0 mi	0m
Mid-County Expressway	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Cedar Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Cedar Avenue

2

Continue on Cedar Avenue

3

Turn left onto River Street

4

Take the ramp right

5

Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway

6

Take the exit slight right toward PA 315 South: Pittston

7

Continue straight

8

Take the exit slight right toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP

9

Keep slight left to continue on I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown

10

Continue straight

11

Keep slight right to continue on I 476 South: Allentown

12

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

13

Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

14

Keep slight left to continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

15

Continue on Mid-County Expressway

16

Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge

17

Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia

18

Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway

19

Keep slight left to continue on Vine Street Expressway

20

Take the exit slight right toward Central Philadelphia

21

Keep slight right to continue on 15th Street, Central Philadelphia

22

Turn right onto North 15th Street

23

Turn slight left onto South Penn Square

24

Keep slight left to continue on South Penn Square

25

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 62.3 miles from City of Scranton, PA.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 62.3 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from City of Scranton, PA

This is one driving day of about 124.6 miles and 2h.

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.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

62 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, PA.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 62.3 mi from City of Scranton, PA

Ramapo, 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 62.3 miles from City of Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.09	$20.04	$40.09
midgrade	$4.60	$22.56	$45.12
premium	$4.95	$24.30	$48.60
diesel	$5.98	$29.33	$58.67

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from City of Scranton, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers 124.6 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Cedar Avenue, River Street, American Legion Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 62.3 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 $20.04 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.