The drive from Pleasant Hills, PA to Scranton, PA covers 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 57m 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 $47.35 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
142.8 miles from Pleasant Hills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m 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 57m. Total distance: 285.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Pleasant Hills, PA to Scranton, PA covers 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 57m, 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 40 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 0.5 miles in near PA 51 / Clairton Boulevard.
Driving Effort10/10
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 25 significant decision points across 285.6 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 0.5 miles (PA 51 / Clairton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (Yellow Belt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 51 / Clairton Boulevard
Turn left onto PA 51 / Clairton Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward McKeesport, West Mifflin, Allegheny County Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward McKeesport, West Mifflin, Allegheny Coun...
6
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in|Yellow Belt
Keep slight left at fork onto Yellow Belt
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
151.2 mi into trip|~3h 23m 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
285 mi into trip|~5h 55m 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 Pleasant Hills, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
92.5 mi in|~2h 17m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
59.7 mi
1h 22m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
5th Avenue
4.5 mi
8m
Lebanon Church Road
3.8 mi
6m
Mosside Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Hills, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Caryl Drive
370 ft·23 sec·Caryl Drive
2
Turn left onto Constitution Drive
328 ft·15 sec·Constitution Drive
3
Turn right onto Old Clairton Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Old Clairton Road
4
Turn left onto PA 51
234 ft·5 sec·Clairton Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
499 ft·13 sec
Toward McKeesport, West Mifflin, Allegheny County Airport
6
Turn slight right onto Yellow Belt
2.8 mi·4 min·Lebanon Church Road
7
Keep slight right at fork onto Yellow Belt
1.0 mi·1 min·Lebanon Church Road
8
Turn slight right onto Yellow Belt
0.5 mi·45 sec·Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard
9
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.4 mi·35 sec·Richland Avenue
10
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.4 mi·31 sec·W.D. Mansfield Memorial Bridge
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Yellow Belt
2.1 mi·3 min·Yellow Belt
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on PA 148; Yellow Belt
4.5 mi·8 min·5th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Yellow Belt
0.2 mi·20 sec·Patton Street
14
Turn right onto Avenue U
214 ft·6 sec·Avenue U
15
At end of road, turn right onto Avenue U
229 ft·11 sec·Avenue U
16
Turn left onto Watkins Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Watkins Avenue
17
Continue on State Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·State Street
18
Continue on PA 130
1.8 mi·2 min·Broadway Boulevard
19
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt
2.7 mi·4 min·Mosside Boulevard
20
Turn straight
0.1 mi·25 sec
21
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
1.7 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
22
Turn right onto US 22
43 mi·1 hr 2 min·William Penn Highway
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
25
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
27
Merge onto I 99; US 220
41 mi·44 min·I 99; US 220
28
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.
29
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
30
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
31
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
32
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
33
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
35
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
36
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
37
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
38
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
39
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
40
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 142.8 miles from Pleasant Hills, PA, or about 3h 13m 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 63 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.8 miles or 3h 13m 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 54m
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 Pleasant Hills, 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 Pleasant Hills, PA
This is one driving day of about 285.6 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Pleasant Hills, 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 142.8 mi from Pleasant Hills, PA
· 3h 13m 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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 68.9
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
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 68.9
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
85.7
1
$29.99
$13.71
Efficient EV
71.4
0
$24.99
$11.42
EV Truck/SUV
114.2
1
$39.98
$18.28
Gas CO2
100 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
Pleasant Hills, PA
Morning
in Pleasant Hills on Saturday
Local time
7:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
7:07 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
26 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
5h 57m 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 Pleasant Hills, PA to Scranton, PA covers 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 57m 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 142.8 miles from Pleasant Hills, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.35 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 25 significant decision points across 285.6 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 0.5 miles (PA 51 / Clairton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (Yellow Belt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Pleasant Hills, 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.
