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Trip from Harford, PA to Scranton, PA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

39m

Distance

30.2 mi

49 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 36m ★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m

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

Downtown Harford, PA, PA

Harford, PA

Kai

Trip Overview

This straightforward 30.2-mile drive from Harford, PA, to Scranton, PA, will take you about 39 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, this route focuses heavily on highway travel, with 97% of it on major roads like I-81 and the North Scranton Expressway. You can expect a fuel cost of around $5 for this journey. Given its short duration and highway-focused nature, it’s an efficient way to get between these two Northeast Pennsylvania locations without needing an overnight stay. This is a practical option for travelers looking for speed and simplicity.

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

15.1 miles from Harford, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route. With 97% of the drive utilizing major interstates and expressways, you'll encounter fast-paced travel for most of the 30.2 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 24.9 miles on I-81, offering a consistent pace. This profile suggests minimal time spent on slower, local roads, making it a direct and efficient journey. The transition between highways is likely seamless, keeping you moving towards your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and North Scranton Expressway. 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 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 30.2 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 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.5 miles (US 6 BUS): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | PA 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547

Turn sharp left onto PA 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

6
26.2 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
7
26.5 mi into trip | ~33m in | US 6 BUS

Merge onto US 6 BUS toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
6
26.7 mi into trip | ~33m in | US 6 BUS

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
7
29.9 mi into trip | ~38m in | Penn Avenue

Turn right onto Penn Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 24.9 mi 29m
North Scranton Expressway 2.9 mi 4m
State Route 547 1 mi 1m
US 6 BUS 0.4 mi <1m
Mulberry Street 0.2 mi <1m
Penn Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Linden Street <0.1 mi <1m
Wyoming Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 24.9 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harford, PA and Scranton, PA.

1

Start on Tingley Lake Road

196 ft · 12 sec · Tingley Lake Road
2

Turn sharp left onto PA 547; PA 2063

511 ft · 12 sec · State Route 547
3

Continue on PA 547

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Route 547
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
5

Merge onto I 81

25 mi · 29 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 54 sec
Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto US 6 BUS

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 6 BUS
Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS

0.2 mi · 23 sec · US 6 BUS
Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
9

Continue on US 11

2.9 mi · 4 min · North Scranton Expressway
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on US 11; PA 307

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn right onto Penn Avenue

526 ft · 17 sec · Penn Avenue
Use the right lane.
12

Turn left onto Linden Street

443 ft · 12 sec · Linden Street
13

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

429 ft · 14 sec · Wyoming Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

Wyoming Avenue

Trip Plan

For this quick 39-minute trip covering 30.2 miles, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you best. Since it's a short, highway-centric drive with a minimal fuel cost of about $5, stopping for extensive breaks isn't necessary. However, remember that the longest stretch without a major change is 24.9 miles on I-81, so plan for a quick pit stop if needed before you begin. Keep an eye out for the transition onto the North Scranton Expressway as you approach your destination; being aware of this change can help you prepare for your arrival in Scranton.

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 15.1 miles from Harford, PA, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 30.2 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 15.1 miles or 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 31m

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 Harford, 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 Harford, PA

This is one driving day of about 30.2 miles and 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Harford, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 24.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 15.1 mi from Harford, PA · 19m into the drive

city in and county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Syracuse, NY

15 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Syracuse, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Harford, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.01 one way

$10.01 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $5.48 $10.97
premium $4.93 $5.86 $11.71
diesel $5.61 $6.67 $13.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.1 0 $3.17 $1.45
Efficient EV 7.6 0 $2.64 $1.21
EV Truck/SUV 12.1 0 $4.23 $1.93

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Harford, PA

Morning in Harford on Wednesday

Local time

8:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scranton, PA

Morning in Scranton on Wednesday

Local time

8:10 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

31 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

39m 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 Harford, PA to Scranton, PA covers 30.2 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, North Scranton Expressway, State Route 547. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.1 miles from Harford, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.01 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 9 significant decision points across 30.2 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 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.5 miles (US 6 BUS): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Harford, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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