The drive from Forward, PA to Scranton, PA covers 239.9 miles and takes about 4h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 99, I 81 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.77 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
120 miles from Forward, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Scranton is a city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is near Wilkes-Barre, and is the seventh most populous city in the state. Today, it is perhaps best known as the setting of the hit TV show "The Office" and the birthplace of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 239.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Forward, PA to Scranton, PA covers 239.9 miles and takes about 4h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 34 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 99.3 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 47.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 239.9 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 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.2 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
47.4 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
6
89.2 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
93.2 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
7
105.5 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
239.3 mi into trip|~4h 51m 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 Forward, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
46.9 mi in|~1h 12m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Flight 93 Memorial Highway
14.4 mi
17m
William Penn Highway
10.2 mi
11m
Portage Street
9.5 mi
13m
Ridge Road
7.2 mi
19m
Railroad Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forward, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
21 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Ridge Road
2.6 mi·8 min·Ridge Road
3
Continue on Ridge Road
4.6 mi·11 min·Ridge Road
4
Continue on PA 403
0.6 mi·1 min·Border Street
5
Turn right onto PA 403
412 ft·8 sec·Whistler Street
6
Continue on PA 403
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
7
Turn left onto Woodstown Highway
0.1 mi·16 sec·Woodstown Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
9
Merge onto US 219
14 mi·17 min·Flight 93 Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
11
Turn right onto Railroad Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
12
Continue on PA 53
9.5 mi·13 min·Portage Street
13
Turn left onto PA 53
0.1 mi·14 sec·Cleveland Street
14
Turn right onto PA 53
510 ft·9 sec·Main Street
15
Turn slight left onto PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·Evergreen Street
16
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
17
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 East: AltoonaUse the right lane.
18
Merge onto US 22
10 mi·11 min·William Penn Highway
19
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
21
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
24
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
25
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
27
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
29
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
30
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
32
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
33
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
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 120 miles from Forward, PA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 53 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 58m
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 Forward, 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 Forward, PA
This is one driving day of about 239.9 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Forward, 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 99.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120 mi from Forward, PA
· 2h 35m 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.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72
0
$25.19
$11.52
Efficient EV
60
0
$20.99
$9.60
EV Truck/SUV
96
1
$33.59
$15.35
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Forward, PA
Late night
in Forward on Saturday
Local time
1:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
1:43 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
21 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
4h 52m 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 Forward, PA to Scranton, PA covers 239.9 miles and takes about 4h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 99, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120 miles from Forward, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.77 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 23 significant decision points across 239.9 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 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.2 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Forward, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
