The drive from Scranton, PA to Hickory, PA covers 304.4 miles and takes about 6h 20m 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 turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.5 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.47 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
152.2 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 20m drive with frequent turns across 304.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 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 98.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Route Complexity9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 304.4 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 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.9 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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
6
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
8
267.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
8
285.3 mi into trip|~5h 49m in
Take the exit toward PA 121: Green Tree, Crafton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67
Toward PA 121: Green Tree, Crafton
8
285.3 mi into trip|~5h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 121 South: Green Tree
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward PA 121 South: Green Tree
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 Hickory, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Crafton.
Altoona
158.1 mi in|~3h|via I 99; US 220
Hollidaysburg
191.9 mi in|~3h 37m
Crafton
285.3 mi in|~5h 49m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.2 mi
1h 25m
I 99
33.8 mi
36m
American Legion Memorial Highway
32.7 mi
39m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
17.4 mi
24m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Millers Run Road
11.5 mi
17m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Hickory, PA.
1
Start on Wyoming Avenue
0.1 mi·38 sec·Wyoming Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·Lackawanna Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 3023
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cedar Avenue
4
Continue on Cedar Avenue
400 ft·12 sec·Cedar Avenue
5
Turn left onto River Street
0.9 mi·1 min·River Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
33 mi·39 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
9
Merge onto I 80
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 161Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
11
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi·28 min·Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
34 mi·36 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
15
Continue on US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
16
Continue on US 22
13 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 22
45 mi·1 hr 6 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22
17 mi·24 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
19
Take the exit
167 ft·5 sec
Exit 67Toward PA 121: Green Tree, CraftonUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward PA 121 South: Green TreeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto PA 121; Blue Belt
2.4 mi·4 min·Greentree Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Continue on Yellow Belt
1.6 mi·2 min·Greentree Road
23
Turn left onto PA 50
2.0 mi·3 min·Washington Pike
24
Continue on PA 50
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto PA 50
12 mi·17 min·Millers Run Road
26
Continue on PA 50
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
PA 50
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.2 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 67 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.2 miles or 2h 54m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hickory, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scranton, 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 Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 304.4 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Scranton, 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 98.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 152.2 mi from Scranton, PA
· 2h 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 152.2 miles from Scranton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.5 miles.
Arriving in Hickory, PA
The final approach into Hickory, 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 Hickory, 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
$50.47 one way
$100.93 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$55.27
$110.54
premium
$4.93
$59.03
$118.07
diesel
$5.61
$67.21
$134.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.3
1
$31.96
$14.61
Efficient EV
76.1
0
$26.63
$12.18
EV Truck/SUV
121.8
1
$42.62
$19.48
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Thursday
Local time
1:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 to 6 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 12:23AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 11:55PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Hickory, PA
Late night
in Hickory on Thursday
Local time
1:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
8 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
6h 20m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Hickory, PA covers 304.4 miles and takes about 6h 20m 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 152.2 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 $50.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 16 significant decision points across 304.4 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 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.9 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Scranton, PA and Hickory, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Crafton.
