The drive from Leetsdale, PA to Scranton, PA covers 329 miles and takes about 6h 10m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 79, I 81 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 239.8 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
164.5 miles from Leetsdale, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 10m. Total distance: 329 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 10m drive with frequent turns across 329 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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 239.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.8 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 329 miles you will encounter 15 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 10.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 294.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
10.8 mi into trip|~19m in
Turn left toward I 79: Erie
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 79: Erie
5
11.1 mi into trip|~20m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
294.1 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
7
328.3 mi into trip|~6h 9m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
328.7 mi into trip|~6h 10m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.8 mi
4h 18m
I 79
42.5 mi
46m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Big Sewickley Creek Road
4.8 mi
8m
Wexford Bayne Road
1.9 mi
3m
Ambridge Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Rochester Road
1.1 mi
1m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leetsdale, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on 1st Street
0.5 mi·1 min·1st Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Broad Street
321 ft·8 sec·Broad Street
3
Take the ramp
118 ft·10 sec
4
Turn right onto PA 65
0.8 mi·1 min·Ohio River Boulevard
5
Turn right onto Red Belt
0.1 mi·12 sec·Cross Street
6
Continue on Red Belt
0.3 mi·28 sec·Main Street
7
Continue on Red Belt
1.2 mi·2 min·Ambridge Avenue
8
Continue on Red Belt
4.8 mi·8 min·Big Sewickley Creek Road
9
Continue on Rochester Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Rochester Road
10
Turn slight left onto Orange Belt
1.9 mi·3 min·Wexford Bayne Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 79: ErieUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 79
42 mi·46 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
14
Merge onto I 80
240 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
16
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
18
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
21
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
22
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.5 miles from Leetsdale, PA, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.8 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 72 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.5 miles or 3h 6m 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 59m
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 Leetsdale, 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 Leetsdale, PA
This is one driving day of about 329 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Leetsdale, 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 239.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 164.5 mi from Leetsdale, PA
· 3h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.54 one way
$109.09 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.74
$119.48
premium
$4.93
$63.81
$127.61
diesel
$5.61
$72.64
$145.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.7
1
$34.55
$15.79
Efficient EV
82.3
0
$28.79
$13.16
EV Truck/SUV
131.6
1
$46.06
$21.06
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Leetsdale, PA
Late night
in Leetsdale on Saturday
Local time
3:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
3:38 AM
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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Leetsdale, PA to Scranton, PA covers 329 miles and takes about 6h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 79, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164.5 miles from Leetsdale, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 329 miles you will encounter 15 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 10.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 294.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Leetsdale, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
