Scranton to North East is 314.1 miles and takes about 6h 15m via Southern Tier Expressway and I-86, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. With nearly all of the drive on highways, it's a straightforward route for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained expressways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit.
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
157.1 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and North East, PA.
1
Start on Wyoming Avenue
0.2 mi·43 sec·Wyoming Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 11; PA 307
0.2 mi·50 sec·Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 11; PA 307
3.1 mi·4 min·North Scranton Expressway
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit onto US 6 BUS
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 6 BUS
Toward I 81, US 6 Business East, US 6 East: Dickson City
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS
518 ft·12 sec·US 6 BUS
Toward US 6 Business East, I 81 North, US 6 West: Dickson City, Binghamton
6
Merge onto US 6 BUS
229 ft·5 sec·Scranton Carbondale Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward I 81 North, US 6 West: BinghamtonUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 81; US 6
54 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 81; US 6
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
11
Turn left onto State Highway 16
5.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 16
12
Continue on NY 16
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Union Street
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
79 mi·1 hr 32 min·Southern Tier Expressway
16
Continue on I 86
3.1 mi·3 min·Hopkins-Bowser Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Toward PA 89: Wattsburg, North East
18
Turn right onto PA 89
1.1 mi·1 min·PA-89
19
Continue on PA 89
3.8 mi·5 min·Station Road
20
Continue on PA 89
0.8 mi·1 min·South Lake Street
21
Turn right onto US 20
252 ft·10 sec·East Main Street
22
Turn right onto Vine Street
165 ft·8 sec·Vine Street
23
Turn right
217 ft·15 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Scranton to avoid any potential weekday traffic. With the longest stretch being 139.5 miles, you'll want to plan at least one fuel and rest stop around the halfway point. Given the relatively short duration, you have flexibility, but breaking up the drive will make it more comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to North East, as services can become less frequent between exits on the interstate.
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 157.1 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.5 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 69 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.1 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North East, 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 314.1 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 139.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 158.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street
Turn left onto US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in|US 6 BUS
Take the exit onto US 6 BUS toward I 81, US 6 Business East, US 6 East: Dickson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 81, US 6 Business East, US 6 East: Dic...
7
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|US 6 BUS
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 BUS toward US 6 Business East, I 81 North, US 6 West: Dickson City, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 Business East, I 81 North, US 6 Wes...
8
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North, US 6 West: Binghamton
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 81 North, US 6 West: Binghamton
6
158.5 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.07 one way
$104.15 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$57.03
$114.07
premium
$4.93
$60.92
$121.83
diesel
$5.61
$69.35
$138.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
25 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Five Mile Point Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Kirkwood, NY
Tesla
12 DCFC
Oakdale Commons Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Johnson City, NY
Tesla
12 DCFC
Scranton, PA Rechargery @ Sheetz - Scranton Carbondale Hwy
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.2
1
$32.98
$15.08
Efficient EV
78.5
0
$27.48
$12.56
EV Truck/SUV
125.6
1
$43.97
$20.10
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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 15, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
3:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North East, PA
Afternoon
in North East on Saturday
Local time
3:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 15m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 97% of the 314.1 miles on interstates like I-81 and I-86. You'll experience a long stretch of 139.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway without needing to exit. Surface roads will only become a factor in the final segment of your trip, as you approach North East, PA. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits along the interstate portions.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 314.1 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 0.2 miles (US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (US 6 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles (US 6 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6h 15m. Total distance: 314.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at North East, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 11; PA 307 / Mulberry Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (US 6 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles (US 6 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at North East, PA before the return drive.
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.
