Trip from State College, PA to Scranton, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 54m

Distance

149.4 mi

240 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

25 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 43m ★

6 AM

2h 55m

8 AM

3h 17m

10 AM

3h 2m

12 PM

3h 0m

3 PM

3h 3m

5 PM

3h 16m

8 PM

2h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States

State College, PA

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Trip Overview

The drive from State College, PA to Scranton, PA covers 149.4 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 81, I 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.77 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

74.7 miles from State College, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 149.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 54m drive with frequent turns across 149.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 19 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 99.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 149.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

3.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte

15 mi into trip | ~21m in

Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport

114.5 mi into trip | ~2h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

148.8 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in | Cedar Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	99.3 mi	1h 47m
I 81	32.4 mi	39m
I 99	11.1 mi	13m
East College Avenue	1.6 mi	3m
River Street	1 mi	1m
East Beaver Avenue	0.6 mi	1m
Mount Nittany Expressway	0.3 mi	<1m
Cedar Avenue	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between State College, PA and Scranton, PA.

Start on South Allen Street

77 ft · 6 sec · South Allen Street

Turn right onto PA 26

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Beaver Avenue

Turn left onto PA 26

515 ft · 18 sec · High Street

Continue on PA 26

1.6 mi · 3 min · East College Avenue

Use the left / right lanes.

Turn left

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 322

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Mount Nittany Expressway

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte

Merge onto I 99; US 220

11 mi · 13 min · I 99; US 220

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 80; US 220

99 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

Merge onto I 81

32 mi · 39 min · I 81

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward PA 307

Turn left onto River Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · River Street

At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Cedar Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on Adams Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Adams Avenue

Turn left onto Biden Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Biden Street

Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

135 ft · 4 sec · Wyoming Avenue

Arrive at destination

Wyoming Avenue

Trip Plan

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 74.7 miles from State College, PA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 33 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 74.7 miles or 1h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 19m

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 State College, 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 State College, PA

This is one driving day of about 149.4 miles and 2h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from State College, 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 99.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74.7 mi from State College, PA · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Watsontown, PA

75 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

Mill Hall, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

California, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.7 miles from State College, 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 99.3 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Scranton, PA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

EVgo Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 138.7

Pittston, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15706554116

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 96

Nescopeck, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 149.4

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: 12–8 am

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 149.4

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 149.4

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 85.4

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 149.4

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 117.4

Mountain Top, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.77 one way

$49.54 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$27.13	$54.25
premium	$4.93	$28.97	$57.95
diesel	$5.61	$32.99	$65.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

25 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

ChargePoint Charging Station

Nescopeck, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Blink

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Tesla

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Kingston, Pennsylvania

EV Connect

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Pittston, Pennsylvania

EVgo

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 7 Tesla: 4 Other: 4 EV Connect: 3 Blink: 2 Electrify America: 2 EVgo: 1 InCharge: 1 Rivian: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	44.8	$15.69	$7.17
Efficient EV	37.4	$13.07	$5.98
EV Truck/SUV	59.8	$20.92	$9.56

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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 15, 2026

Origin

State College, PA

Morning in State College on Friday

Local time

10:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scranton, PA

Morning in Scranton on Friday

Local time

10:11 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

21 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

2h 54m 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 State College, PA to Scranton, PA covers 149.4 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 81, I 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 74.7 miles from State College, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.77 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The route from State College, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from State College, PA to Scranton, PA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Scranton, PA

Nearby Places

EVgo Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

State College, PA

Scranton, PA

Same local time

21 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 54m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from State College, PA to Scranton, PA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from State College, PA to Scranton, PA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from State College, PA to Scranton, PA?

How this page is built

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