Origin
Sandy Lake, PA
Afternoon in Sandy Lake on Thursday
Local time
2:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sandy Lake, PA to Scranton, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 15m
Distance
281.1 mi
452 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 2m
★
6 AM
5h 15m
8 AM
5h 42m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 22m
3 PM
5h 26m
5 PM
5h 41m
8 PM
5h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sandy Lake, PA
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
The drive from Sandy Lake, PA to Scranton, PA covers 281.1 miles and takes about 5h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 81, Sandy Lake Grove City Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 235.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.60 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
140.6 miles from Sandy Lake, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 15m. Total distance: 281.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 15m drive with frequent turns across 281.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 235.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 173 / South 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 5h 15m drive. You will face about 10 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 (PA 173 / South Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (PA 173 / South Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 246.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 173 / South Main Street
Turn sharp right onto PA 173 / South Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 173 / South Main Street
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 173 / South Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
246.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
7
280.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 13m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
280.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 14m in
|
Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 235.3 mi | 4h 13m |
| I 81 | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Sandy Lake Grove City Road | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| Sandy Lake Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cedar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Biden Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 235.3 mi, about 4h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy Lake, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on US 62
84 ft
·
8 sec
·
Mercer Street
2
Turn sharp right onto PA 173
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 173
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on PA 173
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Sandy Lake Grove City Road
5
Continue on PA 173
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Sandy Lake Road
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto I 80
235 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
9
Merge onto I 81
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 81
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
11
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
14
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
15
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
16
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 140.6 miles from Sandy Lake, PA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 235.3 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 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.6 miles or 2h 36m 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 13m
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 Sandy Lake, 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 Sandy Lake, PA
This is one driving day of about 281.1 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Sandy Lake, 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 235.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140.6 mi from Sandy Lake, PA · 2h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.6 miles from Sandy Lake, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 235.3 miles.
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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.60 one way
$93.21 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $51.04 | $102.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $54.52 | $109.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.06 | $124.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.3 | 1 | $29.52 | $13.49 |
| Efficient EV | 70.3 | 0 | $24.60 | $11.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.4 | 1 | $39.35 | $17.99 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Afternoon in Scranton on Thursday
Local time
2:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
3 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 15m 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 Sandy Lake, PA to Scranton, PA covers 281.1 miles and takes about 5h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 81, Sandy Lake Grove City Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.6 miles from Sandy Lake, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.60 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 straightforward 5h 15m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 173 / South Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (PA 173 / South Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 246.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Sandy Lake, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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