The drive from Mount Oliver, PA to Scranton, PA covers 282.8 miles and takes about 5h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, I 99 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.88 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
141.4 miles from Mount Oliver, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m 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 5h 48m. Total distance: 282.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Mount Oliver, PA to Scranton, PA covers 282.8 miles and takes about 5h 48m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 34 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 99.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near South Water Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 282.8 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 2.1 miles (South Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles (PA 885 / Second Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (PA 885 / Bates Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|South Water Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Water Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in|PA 885 / Second Avenue
Turn left onto PA 885 / Second Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip|~7m in|PA 885 / Bates Street
Turn right onto PA 885 / Bates Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
148.4 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
7
282.2 mi into trip|~5h 47m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mount Oliver, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
89.7 mi in|~2h 9m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.6 mi
1h 25m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
11.6 mi
16m
River Street
1 mi
1m
South 18th Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Oliver, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Hays Avenue
117 ft·5 sec·Hays Avenue
2
Turn right onto Brownsville Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·Brownsville Road
3
Continue on South 18th Street
0.9 mi·1 min·South 18th Street
4
Turn right onto Mission Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Mission Street
5
Turn left onto Barry Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Barry Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto Josephine Street
77 ft·8 sec·Josephine Street
7
Turn left onto South 27th Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·South 27th Street
8
Turn right onto Jane Street
241 ft·15 sec·Jane Street
9
Turn left onto South 28th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South 28th Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto South Water Street
462 ft·20 sec·South Water Street
11
Turn left onto Hot Metal Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Hot Metal Street
12
Turn left onto PA 885
0.1 mi·17 sec·Second Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto PA 885
197 ft·3 sec·Bates Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 376 East: MonroevilleUse the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
12 mi·16 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 22
45 mi·1 hr 5 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
19
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
21
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·14 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
24
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
25
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
27
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
29
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
30
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
32
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
33
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 141.4 miles from Mount Oliver, PA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 62 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.4 miles or 3h 7m 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 46m
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 Mount Oliver, 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 Mount Oliver, PA
This is one driving day of about 282.8 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Mount Oliver, 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 99.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 141.4 mi from Mount Oliver, PA
· 3h 7m 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.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 68.3
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 58.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.8
1
$29.69
$13.57
Efficient EV
70.7
0
$24.75
$11.31
EV Truck/SUV
113.1
1
$39.59
$18.10
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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
Mount Oliver, PA
Late night
in Mount Oliver on Saturday
Local time
4:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
4:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% 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
6 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
5h 48m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mount Oliver, PA to Scranton, PA covers 282.8 miles and takes about 5h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, I 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 141.4 miles from Mount Oliver, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 282.8 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 2.1 miles (South Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles (PA 885 / Second Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (PA 885 / Bates Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Mount Oliver, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
