The drive from Kulpmont, PA to Scranton, PA covers 81.3 miles and takes about 1h 40m 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 $13.48 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
40.7 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 40m. Total distance: 81.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 40m highway drive covering 81.3 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 17 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 61 / Chestnut Street.
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 40m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 80.7 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
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.
5
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
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
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Chestnut Street
0.3 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 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
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
15
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
16
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
17
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 40.7 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 40.7 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 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 81.3 miles and 1h 40m.
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 40.7 mi from Kulpmont, PA
· 50m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.48 one way
$26.96 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.76
$29.52
premium
$4.93
$15.77
$31.53
diesel
$5.61
$17.95
$35.90
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: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
EV Truck/SUV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Kulpmont, PA
Evening
in Kulpmont on Friday
Local time
6:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Evening
in Scranton on Friday
Local time
6:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
43 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 40m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Scranton, PA covers 81.3 miles and takes about 1h 40m 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 40.7 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 $13.48 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 40m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 80.7 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Kulpmont, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
