Origin
Independence, PA
Afternoon in Independence on Monday
Local time
1:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Drive Time
6h 13m
Distance
330.2 mi
531 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 1m
★
6 AM
6h 14m
8 AM
6h 39m
10 AM
6h 23m
12 PM
6h 20m
3 PM
6h 24m
5 PM
6h 38m
8 PM
6h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, PA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 330.2 miles and takes about 6h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, Beaver Valley Expressway, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 244.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.64 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
165.1 miles from Independence, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 13m drive with frequent turns across 330.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 244.4 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 2.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 13m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles (I 376 / Beaver Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 376 West: Beaver, New Castle
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 376 West: Beaver, New Castle
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 376 / Beaver Valley Expressway
Merge onto I 376 / Beaver Valley Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
51.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Clarion
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
5
295.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 30m 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
330 mi into trip
|
~6h 13m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 244.4 mi | 4h 23m |
| Beaver Valley Expressway | 34.8 mi | 38m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Mercer-New Wilmington Road | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Independence Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| PA 158 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Steingrabe Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Glen Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 244.4 mi, about 4h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Independence Road
49 ft
·
6 sec
·
Independence Road
2
Continue on Independence Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Independence Road
3
Turn right onto Green Garden Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Green Garden Road
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 376 West: Beaver, New Castle
5
Merge onto I 376
35 mi
·
38 min
·
Beaver Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward PA 18
7
Turn right onto Mitchell Road
460 ft
·
10 sec
·
Mitchell Road
8
Turn left onto Glen Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Glen Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto PA 18
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilmington Road
10
Turn right onto PA 158
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
PA 158
11
Turn right onto Beechwood Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Beechwood Road
12
Turn left onto PA 956
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Market Street
13
Continue on PA 158
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Mercer-New Wilmington Road
14
Turn right onto Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Steingrabe Road
15
Turn right onto US 19
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
South Erie Street
16
Continue on US 19
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Perry Highway
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
18
Merge onto I 80
244 mi
·
4 hr 23 min
·
Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
20
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 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
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.1 miles from Independence, PA, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.4 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.1 miles or 3h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 3m
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 Independence, 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 Independence, PA
This is one driving day of about 330.2 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Independence, 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 244.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 165.1 mi from Independence, PA · 3h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 165.1 miles from Independence, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244.4 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.64 one way
$109.28 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $59.79 | $119.57 |
| premium | $4.92 | $63.99 | $127.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $73.36 | $146.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.1 | 1 | $34.67 | $15.85 |
| Efficient EV | 82.6 | 0 | $28.89 | $13.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.1 | 1 | $46.23 | $21.13 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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.
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Afternoon in City of Scranton on Monday
Local time
1:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
6h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Independence, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 330.2 miles and takes about 6h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, Beaver Valley Expressway, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 165.1 miles from Independence, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 13m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles (I 376 / Beaver Valley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Independence, PA to City of Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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