This straightforward 76.7-mile drive from Lake Wynonah, PA, to Scranton, PA, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 43 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to split it into multiple days. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, making it an economical journey. You'll primarily be on major highways, offering a direct path through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. This route focuses on efficient travel, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.4 miles from Lake Wynonah, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Scranton is a city in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is near Wilkes-Barre, and is the seventh most populous city in the state. Today, it is perhaps best known as the setting of the hit TV show "The Office" and the birthplace of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.
Expect a highway-focused experience for 82% of this trip. The majority of your time will be spent on I 81, which provides a consistent and predictable driving pace. You'll encounter one significant uninterrupted stretch of 59.6 miles on I 81, allowing for extended periods of steady cruising. While the core of the journey is interstate, the initial and final segments on Joseph H. Long Boulevard and Route 61 South offer a brief transition into and out of the highway environment.
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 59.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Joseph H. Long Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Tom-Tom Drive.
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 43m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Tom-Tom Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (PA 443 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 76.1 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Tom-Tom Drive
Turn left onto Tom-Tom Drive
Navigation decision point
5
3.5 mi into trip|~12m in|PA 443 / West Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 443 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
59.6 mi
1h 10m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Route 61 South
3 mi
3m
Berne Drive
2 mi
7m
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
1 mi
1m
River Street
1 mi
1m
South Berne Street
0.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Wynonah, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Running Deer Drive
163 ft·11 sec·Running Deer Drive
2
Turn left onto Wynonah Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Wynonah Drive
3
Turn left onto Tom-Tom Drive
0.1 mi·38 sec·Tom-Tom Drive
4
Turn left onto Berne Drive
2.0 mi·7 min·Berne Drive
5
Continue on South Berne Street
0.6 mi·2 min·South Berne Street
6
Turn right onto PA 443
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Columbia Street
7
Turn left onto PA 443
0.2 mi·22 sec·Parkway
8
At end of road, turn right onto PA 443
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Main Street
9
Turn left onto PA 443
0.5 mi·1 min·Dock Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Center Avenue
11
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
12
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
13
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi·2 min·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
14
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
15
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
17
Merge onto I 81
60 mi·1 hr 10 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
Since this is a relatively short drive of just over an hour and a half, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time and can easily complete it in one go. With no designated stops included in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps before you start or once you arrive in Scranton. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 59.6-mile stretch on I 81, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $13 suggests a budget-friendly trip, but it’s always wise to check current gas prices.
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 38.4 miles from Lake Wynonah, PA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.6 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 17 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.4 miles or 56m 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 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 Lake Wynonah, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Wynonah, PA
This is one driving day of about 76.7 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lake Wynonah, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 59.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.4 mi from Lake Wynonah, PA
· 56m 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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
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
$12.72 one way
$25.43 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.93
$27.85
premium
$4.93
$14.87
$29.75
diesel
$5.61
$16.93
$33.87
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: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.71
$3.07
EV Truck/SUV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lake Wynonah, PA
Late night
in Lake Wynonah on Saturday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Fog
W 3 mph13% chanceLive 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
15 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 43m 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 Lake Wynonah, PA to Scranton, PA covers 76.7 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Joseph H. Long Boulevard, Route 61 South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.4 miles from Lake Wynonah, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.72 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 43m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Tom-Tom Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (PA 443 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 76.1 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lake Wynonah, 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.
