This 271-mile journey from Irwin, PA to Scranton, PA will take approximately 5 hours and 27 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day trip, it covers a mixed driving profile, so you can expect a variety of road types. With a fuel cost estimated at $45, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within Pennsylvania. The route predominantly utilizes major highways like I-99 and the Keystone Shortway, offering a straightforward path through the Northeast region. This drive is well-suited for those looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Pennsylvania cities.
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
135.5 miles from Irwin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
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Drive Character
The drive features a 33% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced travel and more local road driving. You'll encounter stretches on the Keystone Shortway, including one continuous segment of 99.3 miles, which suggests there are opportunities for longer, uninterrupted driving. The 'mixed drive' profile indicates that the road character will likely evolve, transitioning between divided highways and potentially more winding or built-up sections. This variety means you'll need to remain engaged as the driving conditions change throughout the 271 miles.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 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 99.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 271 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 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
12.9 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward US 22 East: Blairsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 22 East: Blairsville
6
78.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
6
120.3 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
136.5 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
270.4 mi into trip|~5h 25m 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.
On the drive from Irwin, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
77.9 mi in|~1h 47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
William Penn Highway
51 mi
1h 6m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
6 mi
6m
Lincoln Highway
5.9 mi
11m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irwin, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
202 ft·18 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Lombard Street
285 ft·19 sec·Lombard Street
3
Turn left onto US 30
5.9 mi·11 min·Lincoln Highway
4
Turn left
0.6 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto PA Tpke 66
6.0 mi·6 min·Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
6
Continue on PA 66
0.3 mi·35 sec·PA 66
Use the right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 22 East: BlairsvilleUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 22
34 mi·47 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
13
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
16
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
19
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
21
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
24
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
25
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Starting your trip in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 5-hour and 27-minute drive. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, where services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $45 is helpful for budgeting, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during longer segments. Consider departing early to avoid potential traffic, and enjoy the straightforward 271-mile journey across Pennsylvania.
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 135.5 miles from Irwin, PA, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.5 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
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 Irwin, 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 Irwin, PA
This is one driving day of about 271 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Irwin, 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 99.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 135.5 mi from Irwin, PA
· 2h 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 135.5 miles from Irwin, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.3 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.
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.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 56.1
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 46.7
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.3
1
$28.46
$13.01
Efficient EV
67.8
0
$23.71
$10.84
EV Truck/SUV
108.4
1
$37.94
$17.34
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Forecast data refreshed 9 hours ago
Origin
Irwin, PA
Late night
in Irwin on Wednesday
Local time
1:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Wednesday
Local time
1:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 3:26PM EDT until April 14 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:51PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
25 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
5h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Irwin, PA to Scranton, PA covers 271 miles and takes about 5h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 99, William Penn Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 135.5 miles from Irwin, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.93 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 271 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 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Irwin, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
