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Trip from Kulpmont, PA to City of Scranton, PA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 39m

Distance

80.9 mi

130 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

25 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 32m ★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown City of Scranton, PA, PA

City of Scranton, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

The drive from Kulpmont, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 81, Sunbury Road, Locust Gap Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.4 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.41 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

40.5 miles from Kulpmont, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 80.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 39m highway drive covering 80.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and Sunbury Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.4 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 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 67.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Sunbury Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 61 / Chestnut Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Kulpmont, PA to City of Scranton, PA is easy. At 1h 39m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 61 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | PA 61 / Chestnut Street

Turn right onto PA 61 / Chestnut Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | South 6th Street

Turn right onto South 6th Street

Navigation decision point

4
11.9 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

4
79.6 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Take the exit toward PA 307

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward PA 307
7
80.7 mi into trip | ~1h 39m 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
I 81 67.4 mi 1h 19m
Sunbury Road 4.4 mi 5m
Locust Gap Highway 3.5 mi 4m
Fairgrounds Road 2.2 mi 2m
Brennans Farm Road 1.3 mi 3m
River Street 1 mi 1m
Chestnut Street 0.3 mi <1m
Cedar Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 67.4 mi, about 1h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kulpmont, PA and City of Scranton, PA.

1

Start on South 9th Street

114 ft · 7 sec · South 9th Street
2

Turn right onto PA 61

0.3 mi · 58 sec · Chestnut Street
3

Turn right onto South 6th Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South 6th Street
4

Continue on Brennans Farm Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · Brennans Farm Road
5

Turn right onto PA 54

3.2 mi · 3 min · Locust Gap Highway
6

Continue on PA 901

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Locust Gap Highway
7

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
8

Continue on PA 901

4.4 mi · 5 min · Sunbury Road
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
10

Merge onto I 81

67 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 81
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward PA 307
12

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street
13

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Arrive at destination

Cedar 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 40.5 miles from Kulpmont, PA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 18 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.5 miles or 50m 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 24m

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 Kulpmont, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Kulpmont, PA

This is one driving day of about 80.9 miles and 1h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Kulpmont, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 67.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.5 mi from Kulpmont, PA · 50m into the drive

borough in southwestern Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Hazleton, PA

40 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

Shenandoah, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Hazleton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Kulpmont, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.4 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.

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.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 11.2
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.41 one way

$26.82 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $14.69 $29.38
premium $4.93 $15.69 $31.38
diesel $5.61 $17.86 $35.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

25 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Blink Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Blink

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Tesla

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

EV Connect

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Kingston, Pennsylvania

EV Connect

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Pittston, Pennsylvania

EVgo

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Moosic, Pennsylvania

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 6 Tesla: 4 Other: 4 Blink: 3 EV Connect: 3 InCharge: 2 EVgo: 1 Electrify America: 1 Rivian: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.3 0 $8.49 $3.88
Efficient EV 20.2 0 $7.08 $3.24
EV Truck/SUV 32.4 0 $11.33 $5.18

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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

Kulpmont, PA

Afternoon in Kulpmont on Thursday

Local time

4:00 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Scranton, PA

Afternoon in City of Scranton on Thursday

Local time

4:00 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 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 Kulpmont, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Sunbury Road, Locust Gap Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.5 miles from Kulpmont, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.41 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.
The drive from Kulpmont, PA to City of Scranton, PA is easy. At 1h 39m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 61 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Kulpmont, PA to City of Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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