Origin
Plains, PA
Afternoon in Plains on Friday
Local time
2:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plains, PA to Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
16.5 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plains, PA
Tomás Asurmendi
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Plains and Scranton, this 16.5-mile trip is an ideal candidate for a straightforward day trip. Expect to spend about 26 minutes behind the wheel, making it a very manageable commute within Pennsylvania’s Northeast region. You will navigate a mix of local roads like North Main Street and Oak Street alongside the efficiency of I-81. With a fuel budget of just $3, this is an incredibly economical route that requires no overnight stays or complex logistics. Because it is a short, direct drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your day without worrying about travel fatigue. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 16.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This 16.5-mile journey offers a mixed-drive profile that keeps things interesting by alternating between interstate speed and local navigation. About 50% of your time will be spent on the highway, specifically utilizing I-81 for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 8.2 miles. As you transition from the local streets of Plains onto the interstate, the pace picks up before you eventually exit back onto surface roads to reach your destination in Scranton. You won't find yourself trapped in a monotonous interstate grind, as the route balances faster segments with standard town driving. It provides a balanced experience for the driver, requiring you to remain alert as you shift between different types of road infrastructure.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 8.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15.9 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Main Street
Turn sharp right onto North Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
6.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
7
15.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
16.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
16.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| North Main Street | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| Oak Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Township Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Biden Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 8.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plains, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on East Carey Street
117 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Carey Street
2
Turn sharp right onto North Main Street
3.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto Bypass Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Bypass Road
4
Continue on South Township Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Township Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Oak Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Street
6
Turn left onto PA 315
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Chestnut Street
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
8
Merge onto I 81
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 81
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
10
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
11
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
13
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
14
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.2 mi from Plains, PA · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.2 miles from Plains, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Scranton, PA
The final approach into 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 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
$2.74 one way
$5.47 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.00 | $5.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.20 | $6.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.64 | $7.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.73 | $0.79 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.44 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Afternoon in Scranton on Friday
Local time
2:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
8 mi in
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
12 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
26m 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 Plains, PA to Scranton, PA covers 16.5 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, North Main Street, Oak Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.2 miles from Plains, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.74 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 26m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15.9 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Plains, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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