The drive from Scranton, PA to Catasauqua, PA covers 76.4 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, American Legion Memorial Highway, Lehigh Valley Thruway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.67 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.2 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 76.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 34m highway drive covering 76.4 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and American Legion Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 57 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and American Legion Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.4 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Lackawanna Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
10.5 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
6
10.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
7
73.8 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward PA 145: MacArthur Road, 7th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 145: MacArthur Road, 7th Street
8
74 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 145 North: Whitehall
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward PA 145 North: Whitehall
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scranton, PA and Catasauqua, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Allentown and Harrisburg.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.67 one way
$25.33 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.87
$27.74
premium
$4.93
$14.82
$29.63
diesel
$5.61
$16.87
$33.74
Estimated Tolls: $7.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(57 mi)$7.41
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(4.8 mi)$0.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.9
0
$8.02
$3.67
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.69
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.70
$4.89
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in Scranton on Friday
Local time
1:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Fog
W 3 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Catasauqua, PA
Afternoon
in Catasauqua on Friday
Local time
1:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 34m 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 Scranton, PA to Catasauqua, PA covers 76.4 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, American Legion Memorial Highway, Lehigh Valley Thruway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.2 miles from Scranton, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.67 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.4 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Scranton, PA and Catasauqua, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Allentown and Harrisburg.
