Etna, PA to Scranton, PA is 291.7 miles and takes about 5h 45m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Pennsylvania, taking you across the northeastern part of the state. Expect a mixed driving experience, blending highway travel with other road types. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable journey for those looking to cover ground efficiently. This route offers a straightforward path connecting two points in the Northeast region.
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
145.9 miles from Etna, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 291.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route features a mixed drive profile, with 37% of the journey on highways. You'll experience segments on the Keystone Shortway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 180.6 miles. The character of the drive will evolve, transitioning between faster highway sections and potentially more varied road conditions on other routes like PA 28. This means you won't be on a single type of road for the entire 5-hour, 45-minute trip. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience as you traverse the landscape.
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 180.6 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 0.1 miles in near PA 8 / Butler Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 291.7 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 0.1 miles (PA 8 / Butler Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (PA 28; Blue Belt / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 8 / Butler Street
Turn right onto PA 8 / Butler Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|PA 28; Blue Belt / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge onto PA 28; Blue Belt / Allegheny Valley Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
33.5 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, In...
7
291.1 mi into trip|~5h 43m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Etna, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
Indiana
33.5 mi in|~42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
180.6 mi
3h 15m
PA 28
36.7 mi
54m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Allegheny Valley Expressway
32.4 mi
40m
US 422
5.1 mi
6m
River Street
1 mi
1m
William Flinn Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 180.6 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Etna, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Grant Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·Grant Avenue
2
Turn right onto PA 8
0.1 mi·22 sec·Butler Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on PA 8
0.5 mi·46 sec·William Flinn Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward PA 28 North: KittanningUse the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Merge onto PA 28; Blue Belt
32 mi·40 min·Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·52 sec
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
7
Merge onto US 422; PA 28
5.1 mi·6 min·US 422; PA 28
8
Continue on PA 28; PA 66
37 mi·54 min·PA 28; PA 66
9
Take the ramp onto PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi·46 sec·PA 28 Truck
10
Merge onto I 80; PA 28 Truck
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·Keystone Shortway
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
12
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
14
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
17
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
18
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Etna, PA, to maximize daylight and make the most of the 5-hour, 45-minute drive. While this route is recommended for one day, planning for a single stop is sensible. The longest stretch without significant road changes is over 180 miles, so be mindful of fuel levels, especially given the estimated $48 fuel cost. Having a rest stop or two planned along the way will break up the driving and keep you alert. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility, but paying attention to the road transitions will enhance your journey.
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 145.9 miles from Etna, PA, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 64 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.9 miles or 3h 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 41m
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 Etna, 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 Etna, PA
This is one driving day of about 291.7 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Etna, 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 180.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.5
1
$30.63
$14.00
Efficient EV
72.9
0
$25.52
$11.67
EV Truck/SUV
116.7
1
$40.84
$18.67
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Etna, PA
Morning
in Etna on Friday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Friday
Local time
7:57 AM
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
27 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
5h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Etna, PA to Scranton, PA covers 291.7 miles and takes about 5h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, PA 28, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145.9 miles from Etna, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.36 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 291.7 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 0.1 miles (PA 8 / Butler Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (PA 28; Blue Belt / Allegheny Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Etna, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
