The drive from Hanover, PA to Scranton, PA covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 25m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on American Legion Memorial Highway, US 15, Carlisle Pike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.7 miles on American Legion Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
80.5 miles from Hanover, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 161 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 25m drive with frequent turns across 161 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
American Legion Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 113.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 94; PA 194 / Carlisle 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 15 significant decision points across 161 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: near the start (PA 94; PA 194 / Carlisle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 94; PA 194 / Carlisle Street
Turn right onto PA 94; PA 194 / Carlisle Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
34.2 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
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 PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
7
41 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 83
Take the exit onto I 83 toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
45 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 51B
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
7
160.4 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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 Hanover, PA and Scranton, PA, road signs point toward York, Hershey, State College and Allentown.
York
34.2 mi in|~51m
Hershey
36.1 mi in|~54m|via PA 581
State College
41 mi in|~1h 1m|via I 83
Allentown
45 mi in|~1h 7m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
113.7 mi
2h 13m
US 15
18.6 mi
26m
Carlisle Pike
13.2 mi
19m
I 83
8.6 mi
11m
Carlisle Street
2.1 mi
5m
American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 113.7 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hanover, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 116; PA 194
92 ft·5 sec·Broadway
2
Turn right onto PA 94; PA 194
2.1 mi·5 min·Carlisle Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on PA 94
7.6 mi·11 min·Carlisle Pike
4
Enter roundabout onto PA 94
183 ft·3 sec·Carlisle Pike
5
Continue on PA 94
5.5 mi·7 min·Carlisle Pike
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto US 15
14 mi·18 min·US 15
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 15
5.1 mi·7 min·US 15
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, YorkUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto PA 581
1.5 mi·2 min·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
11
Continue on PA 581
0.3 mi·21 sec·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Exit 6AToward I 83 North: Harrisburg, Hershey
12
Merge onto I 83
4.6 mi·6 min·I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 83
4.0 mi·5 min·I 83
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State CollegeUse the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·47 sec
Exit 51BToward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
15
Merge onto I 81
114 mi·2 hr 13 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
20
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
21
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
22
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 80.5 miles from Hanover, PA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.7 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 35 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 49m 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 49m
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 Hanover, 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 Hanover, PA
This is one driving day of about 161 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Hanover, 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 American Legion Memorial Highway for about 113.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.5 mi from Hanover, PA
· 1h 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Hanover, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before American Legion Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.7 miles.
Arriving in Scranton, PA
The final approach into 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 Scranton, PA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 66.6
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 27.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.69 one way
$53.38 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$29.23
$58.47
premium
$4.93
$31.22
$62.45
diesel
$5.61
$35.55
$71.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.73
Efficient EV
40.3
0
$14.09
$6.44
EV Truck/SUV
64.4
0
$22.54
$10.30
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Hanover, PA
Afternoon
in Hanover on Thursday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in Scranton on Thursday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph27% chanceLive 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
17 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
3h 25m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hanover, PA to Scranton, PA covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are American Legion Memorial Highway, US 15, Carlisle Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.5 miles from Hanover, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.69 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 161 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: near the start (PA 94; PA 194 / Carlisle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hanover, PA and Scranton, PA, road signs point toward York, Hershey, State College and Allentown.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument.
