Origin
Jackson, PA
Evening in Jackson on Friday
Local time
6:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, PA to Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
55.9 mi
90 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 26m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jackson, PA
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from Jackson, PA to Scranton, PA covers 55.9 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, State Route 239, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.3 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.27 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.
Midpoint
28 miles from Jackson, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 55.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 33m highway drive covering 55.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and State Route 239. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.3 miles on I 81.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 19.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and State Route 239. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in near US 11 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (US 11 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 55.3 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
19.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 11 / North Main Street
Turn left onto US 11 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
34.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
7
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
55.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jackson, PA and Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Nanticoke and Wilkes-Barre.
Nanticoke
29.2 mi in
|
~57m
|
via PA 29
Wilkes-Barre
29.2 mi in
|
~57m
|
via PA 29
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 19.3 mi | 23m |
| State Route 239 | 10.1 mi | 17m |
| North Main Street | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| PA 29 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Shickshinny Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Distillery Hill Road | 2.1 mi | 8m |
| Derrs Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 19.3 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Derrs Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Derrs Road
2
Turn straight onto Distillery Hill Road
1.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Distillery Hill Road
3
Continue on Distillery Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Distillery Hill Road
4
Turn right onto McHenry Hill Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
McHenry Hill Road
5
Turn right onto Distillery Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Distillery Hill Road
6
Continue on Market Street
475 ft
·
21 sec
·
Market Street
7
Turn right onto Colley Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Colley Street
8
Turn right onto PA 239; PA 487
296 ft
·
12 sec
·
Main Street
9
Turn left onto PA 239
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Benton Shickshinny Highway
10
Continue on PA 239
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Shickshinny Road
11
Continue on PA 239
10 mi
·
17 min
·
State Route 239
12
Turn left onto US 11
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 11; PA 29
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Poplar Street
14
Continue on US 11; PA 29
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the ramp onto PA 29
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
PA 29
Toward Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
17
Merge onto I 81
19 mi
·
23 min
·
I 81
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
19
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
22
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
23
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
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 28 miles from Jackson, PA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.3 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 12 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28 miles or 54m 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 21m
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 Jackson, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, PA
This is one driving day of about 55.9 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Jackson, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 19.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28 mi from Jackson, PA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Jackson, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.27 one way
$18.54 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.15 | $20.30 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Evening in Scranton on Friday
Local time
6:26 PM
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 33m 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 Jackson, PA to Scranton, PA covers 55.9 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, State Route 239, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28 miles from Jackson, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.27 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (US 11 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 55.3 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Jackson, PA and Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Nanticoke and Wilkes-Barre.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Scranton, PA
More trips to Scranton, PA
Explore more options from Jackson, PA or browse trips ending in Scranton, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.