Origin
Schuylkill Haven, PA
Night in Schuylkill Haven on Wednesday
Local time
11:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Schuylkill Haven, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
72.6 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Schuylkill Haven, PA
Michael Taccetta
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 72.6-mile drive from Schuylkill Haven to the City of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Designed as a single-day journey, this route won't require an overnight stop. You'll be spending about 86% of your time on highways, making it a predominantly fast-paced drive. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, which is quite budget-friendly for a trip of this distance. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, so you'll be staying within familiar territory for this segment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
36.3 miles from Schuylkill Haven, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this drive, with 86% of the route utilizing major roads. The majority of your journey will be on Interstate 81, where you'll encounter a continuous stretch of 59.6 miles. This means you can settle in for a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. While primarily highway, the route does incorporate other main roads like Joseph H. Long Boulevard and Route 61 South, offering a brief change of scenery before merging back onto faster thoroughfares.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
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 59.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Joseph H. Long Boulevard. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 443 / East Main Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Schuylkill Haven, PA to City of Scranton, PA is easy. At 1h 28m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 443 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (PA 61 / Center Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 443 / East Main Street
Turn right onto PA 443 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
PA 61 / Center Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto PA 61 / Center Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
11.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
4
71.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward PA 307
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 307
7
72.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 59.6 mi | 1h 10m |
| Joseph H. Long Boulevard | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| South Claude A. Lord Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Pottsville Saint Clair Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Dock Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pottsville Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Schuylkill Haven, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on High Street
74 ft
·
5 sec
·
High Street
2
Turn right onto PA 443
82 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto PA 443
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dock Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto PA 61
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Center Avenue
5
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
6
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
7
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
8
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
9
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
11
Merge onto I 81
60 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 81
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
13
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under 1.5 hours, this trip offers great flexibility. You can easily depart at any time of day without needing to worry about breaking it into segments. Plan to fuel up before you leave Schuylkill Haven, as there are no designated stops on this particular route. The longest stretch without a significant road change is nearly 60 miles on I-81, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained highway driving. Keep an eye out for the transition from Route 61 South onto I-81 North, as this is a key point where the road character shifts to a faster pace.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.3 miles from Schuylkill Haven, PA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.6 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.3 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Schuylkill Haven, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Schuylkill Haven, PA
This is one driving day of about 72.6 miles and 1h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Schuylkill Haven, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 59.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.3 mi from Schuylkill Haven, PA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Schuylkill Haven, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in City of Scranton, PA
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.04 one way
$24.07 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.08 | $28.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.03 | $32.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
City of Scranton, PA
Night in City of Scranton on Wednesday
Local time
11:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph
27% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:51PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
39 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
1h 28m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Schuylkill Haven, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 72.6 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Joseph H. Long Boulevard, Route 61 South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.3 miles from Schuylkill Haven, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.04 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.
The drive from Schuylkill Haven, PA to City of Scranton, PA is easy. At 1h 28m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 443 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (PA 61 / Center Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Schuylkill Haven, PA to City of Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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