Cleona, PA to Scranton, PA is 105 miles and takes about 2 hours and 9 minutes via I 81, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, focusing on Pennsylvania for its entirety. It's a straightforward, highway-centric trip, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points. Given the relatively short duration and minimal stops recommended, it's ideal for a single-day journey without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.5 miles from Cleona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 105 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 89% of the drive taking place on major roadways like I 81. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 93.2 miles primarily on I 81, offering a consistent pace. The initial segment involves some local roads, including Ebenezer Road and Tunnelhill Road, before merging onto the interstate. Expect a driving experience that is largely efficient and direct, minimizing time spent navigating slower, more winding local routes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 93.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Ebenezer Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near Old Ebenezer Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cleona, PA to Scranton, PA is easy. At 2h 9m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (Old Ebenezer Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (Fisher Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles (Cedar Avenue): 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
2 mi into trip|~3m in|Old Ebenezer Road
Turn left onto Old Ebenezer Road
Navigation decision point
4
9.7 mi into trip|~15m in|Fisher Avenue
Turn left onto Fisher Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
104.4 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
104.8 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
105 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
93.2 mi
1h 49m
Ebenezer Road
7.6 mi
12m
Tunnelhill Road
1.4 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
North Center Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Biden Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Old Ebenezer Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 93.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleona, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on North Center Street
0.5 mi·56 sec·North Center Street
2
Continue on Tunnelhill Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Tunnelhill Road
3
Turn left onto Old Ebenezer Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Old Ebenezer Road
4
Turn left onto PA 72
7.6 mi·12 min·Ebenezer Road
5
Turn left onto Fisher Avenue
316 ft·6 sec·Fisher Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
93 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 81
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
9
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
12
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
13
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 105-mile journey, leaving anytime during daylight hours should be perfectly fine, as the drive is estimated to take just over 2 hours. With a fuel cost around $17, it's an economical trip. Consider a brief stop midway if needed, though the longest stretch isn't excessively long. Pay attention to the transition from local roads onto I 81; ensure you're comfortable merging at highway speeds. Because this is such a short, efficient drive, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient for you.
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 52.5 miles from Cleona, PA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.2 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 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
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 Cleona, 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 Cleona, PA
This is one driving day of about 105 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Cleona, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 93.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.5 mi from Cleona, PA
· 1h 6m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 3.6
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.41 one way
$34.82 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.07
$38.13
premium
$4.93
$20.36
$40.73
diesel
$5.61
$23.18
$46.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.3
0
$9.19
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.70
$6.72
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cleona, PA
Evening
in Cleona on Friday
Local time
7:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Evening
in Scranton on Friday
Local time
7:13 PM
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
2h 9m 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 Cleona, PA to Scranton, PA covers 105 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Ebenezer Road, Tunnelhill Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.5 miles from Cleona, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.41 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.
The drive from Cleona, PA to Scranton, PA is easy. At 2h 9m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (Old Ebenezer Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (Fisher Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cleona, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
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.
