The drive from Franklin Park, PA to Scranton, PA covers 321.1 miles and takes about 5h 58m 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 79, I 81 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 239.8 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.23 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
160.6 miles from Franklin Park, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m 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 5h 58m. Total distance: 321.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 58m drive with frequent turns across 321.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 239.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 321.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.9 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward I 79: Erie
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 79: Erie
5
3.2 mi into trip|~7m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
286.3 mi into trip|~5h 13m 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
320.5 mi into trip|~5h 57m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
320.9 mi into trip|~5h 57m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.8 mi
4h 18m
I 79
42.5 mi
46m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Nicholson Road
1.7 mi
4m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Rochester Road
0.9 mi
2m
Wexford Bayne Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin Park, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Rochester Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Rochester Road
2
Turn slight right
190 ft·10 sec
3
Turn straight onto Nicholson Road
1.7 mi·4 min·Nicholson Road
4
Turn right onto Orange Belt
0.3 mi·44 sec·Wexford Bayne Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 79: ErieUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 79
42 mi·46 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
8
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
10
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
12
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
13
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
15
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
16
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
17
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 160.6 miles from Franklin Park, PA, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.8 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 71 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.6 miles or 2h 58m 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 48m
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 Franklin Park, 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 Franklin Park, PA
This is one driving day of about 321.1 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Franklin Park, 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 239.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160.6 mi from Franklin Park, PA
· 2h 58m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.23 one way
$106.47 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.30
$116.61
premium
$4.93
$62.27
$124.55
diesel
$5.61
$70.89
$141.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.3
1
$33.72
$15.41
Efficient EV
80.3
0
$28.10
$12.84
EV Truck/SUV
128.4
1
$44.95
$20.55
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Franklin Park, PA
Morning
in Franklin Park on Saturday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 to 6 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 7:23PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
10 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
5h 58m 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 Franklin Park, PA to Scranton, PA covers 321.1 miles and takes about 5h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 79, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160.6 miles from Franklin Park, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.23 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 321.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Franklin Park, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
