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Trip from Litchfield, PA to City of Scranton, PA

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

94.2 mi

152 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m

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

Downtown City of Scranton, PA, PA

City of Scranton, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

Traveling from Litchfield to Scranton covers 94.4 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trek within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the journey. Because there are no mandatory stops required by the route, you have the flexibility to drive it straight through or linger at your own pace. This is a practical, efficient connection between these two Pennsylvania locations that doesn't require an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

47.1 miles from Litchfield, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate via Sackett Creek Road, West River Road, and the Southern Tier Expressway, which keeps the experience grounded in local scenery. Because the road is dominated by technical, winding segments, you will need to stay alert behind the wheel. The absence of long, uninterrupted highway stretches means your focus will be consistently engaged by the road's changing geometry. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed transit.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 49.8 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,524 ft 739 ft

Total Climb

1,173 ft

Total Descent

1,958 ft

Highest Point

1,524 ft

Elevation Range

785 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.9 miles in near I 81.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 94.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 39.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.1 miles (US 6 BUS): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

7
39.9 mi into trip | ~57m in | I 81

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 81 South: Scranton
6
89.7 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Take the exit toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
7
90.1 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | US 6 BUS

Merge onto US 6 BUS toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
6
90.2 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | US 6 BUS

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
6
93.5 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in | Penn Avenue

Turn right onto Penn Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 49.8 mi 58m
Southern Tier Expressway 34.3 mi 41m
North Scranton Expressway 2.9 mi 4m
Litchfield Road 2.5 mi 6m
Sackett Creek Road 2.5 mi 8m
West River Road 0.4 mi <1m
US 6 BUS 0.4 mi <1m
Penn Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 49.8 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Litchfield Road

2.5 mi · 6 min · Litchfield Road
2

Continue on Sackett Creek Road

2.5 mi · 8 min · Sackett Creek Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto CR 4

0.4 mi · 47 sec · West River Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
5

Merge onto I 86

34 mi · 41 min · Southern Tier Expressway
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

50 mi · 58 min · I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 54 sec
Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto US 6 BUS

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 6 BUS
Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway Use the straight lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS

0.2 mi · 23 sec · US 6 BUS
Toward US 11 South: Scranton Expressway
10

Continue on US 11

2.9 mi · 4 min · North Scranton Expressway
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on US 11; PA 307

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto Penn Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Penn Avenue
Use the right lane.
13

At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Lackawanna Avenue
14

Turn right onto CR 3023

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Cedar Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

Cedar Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 1 hour and 39 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though starting in the morning will help you avoid fatigue on these winding local roads. Since the route involves no formal stops, plan to fuel up before you leave Litchfield to keep your $15 budget on track. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of Sackett Creek Road and West River Road can make the trip feel longer than the mileage suggests, so factor in a bit of extra time if you are not accustomed to non-highway driving. Staying focused on the frequent turns is the best way to ensure a smooth arrival in Scranton.

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 47.1 miles from Litchfield, PA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 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 80 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47.1 miles or 1h 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 1h 41m

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 Litchfield, 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 Litchfield, PA

This is one driving day of about 94.2 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Litchfield, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 49.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.1 mi from Litchfield, PA · 1h 6m into the drive

city in and county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Syracuse, NY

47 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

Syracuse, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Syracuse, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.1 miles from Litchfield, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around City of Scranton, PA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.62 one way

$31.23 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $17.10 $34.21
premium $4.93 $18.27 $36.54
diesel $5.61 $20.80 $41.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.3 0 $9.89 $4.52
Efficient EV 23.6 0 $8.24 $3.77
EV Truck/SUV 37.7 0 $13.19 $6.03

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Litchfield, PA

Night in Litchfield on Tuesday

Local time

11:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Scranton, PA

Night in City of Scranton on Tuesday

Local time

11:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°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

2h 4m 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 Litchfield, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 94.2 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Southern Tier Expressway, North Scranton Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.1 miles from Litchfield, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.62 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 demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 94.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.1 miles (US 6 BUS): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Litchfield, PA to City of Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 739 ft to 1,524 ft elevation with about 1,173 ft of total climbing.

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