Origin
Old Forge, PA
Afternoon in Old Forge on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
3h 52m
Distance
182.9 mi
294 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Old Forge, PA
Phil Evenden
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
If you are planning a trip from Old Forge to Scranton, expect a journey covering 182.9 miles that takes approximately 3 hours and 52 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting about $30 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. You will navigate through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania using a combination of the American Legion Memorial Highway, I-81, and Black Gap Road. It is a straightforward drive that works well for those looking to reach their destination efficiently without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.4 miles from Old Forge, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Expect a mix of road types, as this journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive. Only 24% of your total mileage is spent on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads requiring your full attention. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the American Legion Memorial Highway, which spans 117.9 miles of the trip. The transition from these longer highway segments into more technical local driving requires you to stay alert behind the wheel. Because of the frequent turns, you should prepare for a driving experience that feels more involved and less like a standard interstate cruise.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.6 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 182.9 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 17.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Old Forge, PA to City of Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Marysville along the way.
Marysville
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 117.9 mi | 2h 19m |
| I 81 | 44.2 mi | 53m |
| Black Gap Road | 5.1 mi | 9m |
| Rocky Mountain Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Old Forge Road | 4.1 mi | 9m |
| Lincoln Way East | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| South Mountain Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Old Forge, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
Start on Old Forge Road
Turn left onto South Mountain Road
Turn right onto PA 233
Turn left onto US 30
Turn right onto PA 997
Turn right onto PA 696
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn left onto River Street
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a manageable day trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for one planned stop will help you break up the nearly four-hour duration. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, it is wise to keep a steady pace and account for the extra time needed to navigate turns. Make sure your fuel levels are sufficient before hitting the road, as the $30 estimate is a baseline for the 182.9-mile distance. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prioritize your focus during the local road segments, as the shift from the long American Legion Memorial Highway stretch can be abrupt. Keep an eye on your navigation to ensure you remain on track during the more technical portions of the journey.
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.
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 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.4 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Old Forge, 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 Old Forge, PA
This is one driving day of about 182.9 miles and 3h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91.4 mi from Old Forge, PA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 91.4 miles from Old Forge, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before American Legion Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117.9 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.26 one way
$60.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $33.12 | $66.23 |
| premium | $4.92 | $35.44 | $70.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $40.63 | $81.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.9 | 0 | $19.20 | $8.78 |
| Efficient EV | 45.7 | 0 | $16.00 | $7.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.61 | $11.71 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Old Forge on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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Return Trip
City of Scranton, PA to Old Forge, PAPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Old Forge, PA or browse trips ending in City of Scranton, PA.
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