Origin
Shamokin, PA
Late night in Shamokin on Saturday
Local time
3:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shamokin, PA to Scranton, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
86.2 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shamokin, PA
Kai
Trip Overview
This 86.2-mile drive from Shamokin, PA, to Scranton, PA, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-81 and PA-901, with a small portion on Sunbury Road. Given its relatively short duration and manageable distance, it’s an ideal day trip, and the estimated fuel cost is around $14. This route stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a direct connection between these two cities without requiring an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Shamokin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Scranton, PA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-81. Expect long stretches of uninterrupted driving, including a continuous 67.4-mile segment on I-81. This means you'll likely experience consistent speeds and a less varied landscape compared to a winding, scenic byway. The road's personality is geared towards efficient travel, making it a functional commute rather than a leisurely exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 67.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and PA 901. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Arch Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Arch Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway): Navigation decision point; at 85.5 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Arch Street
Turn left onto West Arch Street
Navigation decision point
5
7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway
At end of road, turn right onto PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway
Navigation decision point
7
85.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
85.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
5
86.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
Wyoming Avenue
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 67.4 mi | 1h 19m |
| PA 901 | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| Sunbury Road | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Locust Gap Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Fairgrounds Road | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Mount Carmel Street | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Sunbury Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shamokin, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on PA 125
57 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Turn left onto West Arch Street
17 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Arch Street
3
Turn slight left onto West Lincoln Street
74 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Lincoln Street
4
Turn left onto PA 125
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Market Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto PA 61
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
West Sunbury Street
6
Turn slight right onto PA 61
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Carmel Street
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
8
Turn right onto PA 901
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
PA 901
9
At end of road, turn right onto PA 54; PA 901
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Locust Gap Highway
10
Continue on PA 901
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
11
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
12
Continue on PA 901
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Sunbury Road
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
14
Merge onto I 81
67 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 81
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
16
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Adams Avenue
19
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Biden Street
20
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 1h 47m drive, flexibility is your best friend. Since there are no recommended stops and the longest stretch is manageable, you can depart whenever suits your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 67.4-mile segment on I-81, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The $14 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to factor in a little extra. You'll be spending most of your time on I-81, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition for sustained highway speeds.
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 43.1 miles from Shamokin, PA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 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 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shamokin, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shamokin, PA
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Shamokin, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 67.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.1 mi from Shamokin, PA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.1 miles from Shamokin, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.4 miles.
Arriving in Scranton, PA
The final approach into 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
$14.29 one way
$28.58 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $15.65 | $31.30 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.72 | $33.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.03 | $38.06 |
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: 30.2 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 | 25.9 | 0 | $9.05 | $4.14 |
| Efficient EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.54 | $3.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.07 | $5.52 |
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.
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
3:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
1 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
1h 47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Shamokin, PA to Scranton, PA covers 86.2 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, PA 901, Sunbury Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.1 miles from Shamokin, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.29 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 is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Arch Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (PA 54; PA 901 / Locust Gap Highway): Navigation decision point; at 85.5 miles (Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Shamokin, PA to Scranton, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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