Drive Time
4h 59m
Distance
301 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
The drive from Columbus, PA to Scranton, PA covers 301 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on PA-957, Erie Street, Route 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.5 miles from Columbus, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 59m drive with frequent turns across 301 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PA-957 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Erie Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 6 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Youngsville Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Warren Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Crescent Park | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, PA and Scranton, PA.
Start on PA-957
Turn left onto Erie Street
Turn left onto Route 6
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Continue on Youngsville Bypass
Continue on Warren Bypass
Continue on Crescent Park
Continue on Main Street
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Continue on North Main Street
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Continue on West Main Street
Take the exit slight right toward PA 666 West
Merge slight left onto South Main Street
Continue straight
At the end of the road, turn left
Turn right
Turn left onto West Main Street
Continue on Boot Jack Road
Turn left onto Penfield Road
Continue on Hoovertown Road
Continue on State Park Road
Turn left
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
Take the exit slight left toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward PA 307
Turn left onto River Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Continue on Adams Avenue
Turn left onto Biden Street
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Columbus, 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 Columbus, PA
This is one driving day of about 301 miles and 4h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.5 mi from Columbus, PA · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
151 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 150.5 miles from Columbus, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Scranton, 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 Scranton, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$48.42 one way
$96.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $54.50 | $109.00 |
| premium | $4.95 | $58.71 | $117.41 |
| diesel | $5.98 | $70.87 | $141.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.3 | 1 | $31.60 | $14.45 |
| Efficient EV | 75.3 | 0 | $26.34 | $12.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.4 | 1 | $42.14 | $19.26 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
53°F
Jamestown, NY
151 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Explore more options from Columbus, PA or browse trips ending in Scranton, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
Explore maps for Columbus, PA or Scranton, PA on MapSof.net.