Hughesville to Scranton is 70 miles and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes via East Water Street and I-81, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a route that involves a good amount of turning, so it's not a simple point-and-go journey. Given its manageable length and duration, this drive is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35 miles from Hughesville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m 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.
This drive features a profile described as 'turn-heavy local drive,' indicating frequent changes in direction rather than a continuous highway cruise. While 27% of the journey utilizes the highway, the bulk of the experience will likely involve navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 42.2 miles on East Water Street, suggesting a significant portion of the drive will be on this particular road before transitioning to other segments. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience where you'll be actively steering and adjusting your course.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Water Street is the longest continuous segment at about 42.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 43.8 miles in near PA 415 / Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 43.8 miles (PA 415 / Memorial Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 68.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69.4 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
43.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|PA 415 / Memorial Highway
Enter roundabout onto PA 415 / Memorial Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
69.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
69.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
70 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Water Street
42.2 mi
1h 8m
I 81
13.3 mi
15m
Memorial Highway
6.3 mi
13m
PA 309
5.5 mi
7m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
PA 115
0.2 mi
<1m
Biden Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East Water Street
— 42.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hughesville, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 118
42 mi·1 hr 8 min·East Water Street
2
Turn right onto PA 415
1.6 mi·3 min·Memorial Highway
3
Enter roundabout onto PA 415
120 ft·2 sec·Memorial Highway
4
Continue on PA 415
4.7 mi·9 min·Memorial Highway
5
Continue on PA 309
5.5 mi·7 min·PA 309
6
Continue on PA 115
0.2 mi·19 sec·PA 115
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·15 min·I 81
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
10
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
11
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
13
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
14
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of under two hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and allow ample time for any unexpected delays. While there are no specific stops noted, the drive's turn-heavy nature means you might find yourself needing brief pauses more often than on a direct interstate route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 42.2-mile stretch on East Water Street, to ensure you have sufficient gas to reach Scranton comfortably. The $12 fuel cost estimate suggests this is an economical trip.
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 35 miles from Hughesville, PA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.2 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 15 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35 miles or 56m 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 36m
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 Hughesville, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hughesville, PA
This is one driving day of about 70 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Hughesville, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East Water Street for about 42.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35 mi from Hughesville, PA
· 56m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.61 one way
$23.21 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.71
$25.42
premium
$4.93
$13.58
$27.15
diesel
$5.61
$15.46
$30.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21
0
$7.35
$3.36
Efficient EV
17.5
0
$6.13
$2.80
EV Truck/SUV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Hughesville, PA
Late night
in Hughesville on Saturday
Local time
3:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
3:09 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
1 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
1h 50m 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 Hughesville, PA to Scranton, PA covers 70 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Water Street, I 81, Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35 miles from Hughesville, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.61 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 straightforward 1h 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.8 miles (PA 415 / Memorial Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 68.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69.4 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hughesville, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
