Tarentum, PA to Scranton, PA is 277.4 miles and takes about 5h 26m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region from west to east. Expect a mixed driving experience that’s manageable for a single day, though you might consider breaking it up if you prefer a more leisurely pace. This route offers a practical way to connect these two points without extensive detours.
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
138.7 miles from Tarentum, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 277.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This journey features a mixed drive profile, with 33% of the route utilizing highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 180.6 miles along the Keystone Shortway, offering a significant period of consistent travel. As you progress, the road character will shift, blending highway segments with other types of roadways. This variety means you’ll experience different driving conditions, from potentially faster highway sections to more varied local road travel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 180.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 7th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 277.4 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (West 7th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (PA 366; Red Belt / Ross Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 7th Avenue
Turn left onto West 7th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 366; Red Belt / Ross Street
Turn left onto PA 366; Red Belt / Ross Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 28 North: Kittanning
6
19.2 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, In...
7
276.8 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tarentum, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
Indiana
19.2 mi in|~23m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
180.6 mi
3h 15m
PA 28
36.7 mi
54m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
Allegheny Valley Expressway
17.9 mi
20m
US 422
5.1 mi
6m
River Street
1 mi
1m
Bull Creek Road
0.5 mi
<1m
PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 180.6 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tarentum, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on East Street
194 ft·10 sec·East Street
2
Turn left onto West 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·22 sec·West 7th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto PA 366; Red Belt
0.2 mi·30 sec·Ross Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on PA 366; Red Belt
0.5 mi·54 sec·Bull Creek Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward PA 28 North: KittanningUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto PA 28
18 mi·20 min·Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·52 sec
Toward US 422 East, PA 28 North: Kittanning, Indiana
8
Merge onto US 422; PA 28
5.1 mi·6 min·US 422; PA 28
9
Continue on PA 28; PA 66
37 mi·54 min·PA 28; PA 66
10
Take the ramp onto PA 28 Truck
0.4 mi·46 sec·PA 28 Truck
11
Merge onto I 80; PA 28 Truck
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·Keystone Shortway
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
13
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
15
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
18
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
19
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 26m estimated duration, starting your drive in the morning from Tarentum will allow you to reach Scranton with ample daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 180.6-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent there. Planning your fuel stops strategically before embarking on longer highway segments will ensure a smoother journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.7 miles from Tarentum, PA, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 61 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.7 miles or 2h 49m 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 24m
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 Tarentum, 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 Tarentum, PA
This is one driving day of about 277.4 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Tarentum, 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 180.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.7 mi from Tarentum, PA
· 2h 49m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.2
1
$29.13
$13.32
Efficient EV
69.4
0
$24.27
$11.10
EV Truck/SUV
111
1
$38.84
$17.75
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Tarentum, PA
Late night
in Tarentum on Saturday
Local time
3:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Late night
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
3:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Clearfield, PA
139 mi in
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
5h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Tarentum, PA to Scranton, PA covers 277.4 miles and takes about 5h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, PA 28, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.7 miles from Tarentum, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 277.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 7th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (PA 366; Red Belt / Ross Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Tarentum, PA to Scranton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
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.
