This 85.2-mile journey from Scranton to Tower City, Pennsylvania, will take you about 1 hour and 44 minutes to complete. Primarily following the American Legion Memorial Highway and US 209, this route is entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it's an economical option for exploring the local landscape. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more engaging and less monotonous experience than a typical interstate cruise. Consider this a solid choice for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
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.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" on this route, with only an estimated 8% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 76.8 miles along the American Legion Memorial Highway. This suggests a journey that will involve navigating various local roads and potentially some winding sections, rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. The road's character likely shifts throughout the drive, moving from more open stretches to potentially tighter, more involved driving as you get closer to Tower City.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
American Legion Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 76.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Scranton, PA to Tower City, PA is easy. At 1h 44m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 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
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|River Street
Turn left onto River Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
8
78.5 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 209: Tremont, Tower City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 107
Toward US 209: Tremont, Tower City
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
American Legion Memorial Highway
76.8 mi
1h 30m
US 209
6.5 mi
10m
River Street
0.9 mi
1m
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Lackawanna Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Wyoming Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
East Grand Avenue
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 76.8 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Tower City, 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
77 mi·1 hr 30 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 107Toward US 209: Tremont, Tower CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 209
6.5 mi·10 min·US 209
10
Arrive at destination
US 209
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes, this 85.2-mile trip from Scranton to Tower City offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart mid-morning and still have ample time for a relaxed arrival, or even head out after lunch. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for brief breaks as needed, especially considering the 'turn-heavy' nature of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch is a significant 76.8 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway, and topping up before you begin is a good idea.
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 42.6 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.8 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 51m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tower City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 85.2 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Scranton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on American Legion Memorial Highway for about 76.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.6 mi from Scranton, PA
· 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 82.2
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.13 one way
$28.25 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.47
$30.94
premium
$4.93
$16.52
$33.05
diesel
$5.61
$18.81
$37.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
EV Truck/SUV
34.1
0
$11.93
$5.45
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 18, 2026
Origin
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tower City, PA
Morning
in Tower City on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
6 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 44m 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 Tower City, PA covers 85.2 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are American Legion Memorial Highway, US 209, River Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.6 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 $14.13 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 Scranton, PA to Tower City, PA is easy. At 1h 44m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (CR 3023 / Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (River Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Scranton, PA to Tower City, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
