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Trip from Glenside, PA to City of Scranton, PA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 13m

Distance

114.7 mi

185 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 4m ★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

census-designated place in Pennsylvania, USA

Glenside, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown City of Scranton, PA, PA

City of Scranton, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head north from Glenside to Scranton, you are looking at a straightforward 114.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 13 minutes. This route is designed for efficiency, relying heavily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-81 to bridge the gap between these two Northeastern Pennsylvania locations. Because the drive is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to complete the one-way trip. Navigating this path is uncomplicated, making it an excellent choice if your primary goal is to get from point A to point B as reliably as possible.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

57.3 miles from Glenside, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 94% of this drive takes place on high-speed roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which accounts for a substantial 94.1-mile stretch of the journey. The route maintains a consistent, fast-paced character throughout, favoring interstate travel over local roads. While it may lack the variety of a winding country backroad, the predictability of the highway network keeps the pace steady. Prepare for a focused drive where the primary objective is maintaining momentum across the Northeast region.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the longest continuous segment at about 94.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near PA 152 / Limekiln Pike.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 114.7 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 0.9 miles (PA 152 / Limekiln Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (PA 152 / Susquehanna Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | PA 152 / Limekiln Pike

Keep slight right at fork onto PA 152 / Limekiln Pike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
3.1 mi into trip | ~6m in | PA 152 / Susquehanna Road

At end of road, turn left onto PA 152 / Susquehanna Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
3.6 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the ramp toward I 276 Toll West, PATP Toll West: Valley Forge

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP Toll West: Valley...
7
9.3 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward I 476: Chester, Allentown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 476: Chester, Allentown
7
114.5 mi into trip | ~2h 13m 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.

Between Glenside, PA and City of Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Allentown and Scranton.

Allentown

9.3 mi in | ~14m

Scranton

103.9 mi in | ~1h 59m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension 94.1 mi 1h 43m
I 81 8.2 mi 9m
Pennsylvania Turnpike 5.3 mi 5m
Limekiln Pike 2.2 mi 4m
River Street 1 mi 1m
Mount Carmel Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Susquehanna Road 0.3 mi <1m
Virginia Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension — 94.1 mi, about 1h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Glenside, PA and City of Scranton, PA.

1

Start on this road

354 ft · 27 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto 527

370 ft · 16 sec · North Easton Road
3

Turn right onto Mount Carmel Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Mount Carmel Avenue
4

Continue on PA 152

484 ft · 13 sec · Limekiln Pike
5

Keep slight right at fork onto PA 152

1.1 mi · 2 min · Limekiln Pike
Use the right lane.
6

Continue on Fitzwatertown Road

356 ft · 11 sec · Fitzwatertown Road
7

Turn left onto Jenkintown Road

197 ft · 4 sec · Jenkintown Road
8

Continue on PA 152

1.0 mi · 1 min · Limekiln Pike
9

At end of road, turn left onto PA 152

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Susquehanna Road
Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto Virginia Drive

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Virginia Drive
11

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP Toll West: Valley Forge
12

Merge onto I 276; PATP

5.3 mi · 5 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
13

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 476: Chester, Allentown Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 476 North: Allentown
15

Merge onto I 476; PATP

94 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
18

Merge onto PA 315

523 ft · 8 sec · Chestnut Street
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
20

Merge onto I 81

8.2 mi · 9 min · I 81
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward PA 307
22

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street
23

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24

Arrive at destination

Cedar Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a compact 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak commuting hours is always a smart way to ensure a smooth transition onto the Turnpike. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 114.7-mile route, you can easily handle the drive in one go without needing to plan for lengthy breaks. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension means you should have your toll payment method ready to go before you hit the road. Staying alert during that long 94.1-mile stretch is the most important factor for a safe trip. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, you can easily build in a brief rest stop, as the route is simple enough to navigate even with unplanned detours.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.3 miles from Glenside, PA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.1 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 25 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 57.3 miles or 1h 8m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 48m

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 Glenside, 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 Glenside, PA

This is one driving day of about 114.7 miles and 2h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Glenside, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 94.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.3 mi from Glenside, PA · 1h 8m into the drive

borough in Pennsylvania, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palmerton, PA

57 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

Allentown, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palmerton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.3 miles from Glenside, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.1 miles.

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

$19.02 one way

$38.03 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $20.83 $41.65
premium $4.93 $22.24 $44.49
diesel $5.61 $25.32 $50.65

Estimated Tolls: $12.92

Pennsylvania Turnpike (99.4 mi) $12.92

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Tolls

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.4 0 $12.04 $5.51
Efficient EV 28.7 0 $10.04 $4.59
EV Truck/SUV 45.9 0 $16.06 $7.34

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Glenside, PA

Late night in Glenside on Thursday

Local time

12:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Scranton, PA

Late night in City of Scranton on Thursday

Local time

12:32 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

18 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

2h 13m 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 Glenside, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 114.7 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, I 81, Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.3 miles from Glenside, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.02 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 114.7 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 0.9 miles (PA 152 / Limekiln Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (PA 152 / Susquehanna Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Glenside, PA and City of Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Allentown and Scranton.

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