Origin
Decatur, PA
Afternoon in Decatur on Thursday
Local time
1:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
127.7 mi
206 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 2m
8 PM
2h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, PA
Haneul Trac
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 127.7-mile journey from Decatur to Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 42 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a portion on US-522. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $21, making it an economical option. This route offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for a single day of travel without the need for an overnight stay. Given that both your origin and destination are within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, you'll be exploring familiar territory throughout this drive.
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
63.9 miles from Decatur, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 127.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 44% of the journey utilizing highways. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced driving interspersed with more varied road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.5 miles along the Keystone Shortway, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the road character will likely shift, transitioning between these highway segments and other major roads like I-81 and US-522, keeping the driving experience dynamic.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 35.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Alfarata Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 127.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Alfarata Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (US 522): Navigation decision point; at 37.3 miles (US 522 / Susquehanna Trail): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Alfarata Road
Turn left onto Alfarata Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 522
Turn left onto US 522
Navigation decision point
5
37.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 522 / Susquehanna Trail
Turn left onto US 522 / Susquehanna Trail
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
93.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
7
127.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 35.5 mi | 39m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| US 522 | 24 mi | 27m |
| South Main Street | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| Point Township Drive | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| North Susquehanna Trail | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| Continental Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Susquehanna Trail | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 35.5 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Old Stage Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Stage Road
2
Turn left onto Alfarata Road
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Alfarata Road
3
Turn left onto US 522
24 mi
·
27 min
·
US 522
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 522; PA 104
10 mi
·
12 min
·
South Main Street
5
Turn left onto US 522
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Susquehanna Trail
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 11; US 15
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Susquehanna Trail
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto US 11
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Susquehanna Trail
8
Continue on US 11
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Water Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 11
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Point Township Drive
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 11
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Northumberland Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto PA 54
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Continental Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
13
Merge onto I 80
35 mi
·
39 min
·
Keystone Shortway
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
15
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
17
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 42-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your day, especially if you plan any brief stops. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 35.5 miles, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $21. A practical tip for this route: monitor traffic conditions on I-81 as you approach Scranton, as this is a common corridor for both local and through traffic.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.9 miles from Decatur, PA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.5 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.9 miles or 1h 25m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Decatur, 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 Decatur, PA
This is one driving day of about 127.7 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Decatur, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 35.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.9 mi from Decatur, PA · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.9 miles from Decatur, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in City of Scranton, PA
The final approach into City of 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 City of Scranton, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.17 one way
$42.34 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $23.19 | $46.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $24.77 | $49.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.19 | $56.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.41 | $6.13 |
| Efficient EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.17 | $5.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.1 | 0 | $17.88 | $8.17 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon in City of Scranton on Thursday
Local time
1:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Northumberland, PA
64 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
1 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
2h 42m 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 Decatur, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 127.7 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 81, US 522. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.9 miles from Decatur, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.17 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.
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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 127.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Alfarata Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (US 522): Navigation decision point; at 37.3 miles (US 522 / Susquehanna Trail): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Decatur, PA to City of Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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