This 276.2-mile journey from Unity, PA to Scranton, PA is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 5 hours and 33 minutes of driving time. You'll primarily navigate via the Keystone Shortway and I-81, with a portion on PA 286, making for a 27% highway experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, this drive offers a straightforward route within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. It's designed for a single day, allowing you to cover the distance efficiently without needing an overnight stay, though planning for one stop is factored in.
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
138.1 miles from Unity, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 33m. Total distance: 276.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 276.2-mile trip, with only 27% of the route on highways. While there's a significant uninterrupted stretch of 139.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway, the overall character involves more localized road segments. This means you'll likely experience a varied driving experience, shifting between quicker highway speeds and more deliberate navigation through local areas. The route is not a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a more engaging drive with frequent changes in road type.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 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 139.7 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 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Alley.
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 276.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 (East Alley): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Unity Trestle Road): Navigation decision point; at 37.5 miles (US 422 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Alley
Turn right onto East Alley
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Unity Trestle Road
At end of road, turn left onto Unity Trestle Road
Navigation decision point
6
37.5 mi into trip|~59m in|US 422 Business
Take the exit onto US 422 Business toward Philadelphia Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Philadelphia Street
5
241.3 mi into trip|~4h 48m 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
7
275.6 mi into trip|~5h 32m 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
139.7 mi
2h 31m
I 81
32.4 mi
39m
PA 286
27.7 mi
32m
Mahaffey Grampian Highway
9.8 mi
11m
PA 56
8.7 mi
13m
Sheridan Road
8.2 mi
12m
Fairview Drive
6 mi
8m
Benjamin Franklin Highway
4.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 139.7 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Unity, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Perry Street
19 ft·3 sec·Perry Street
2
Turn right onto East Alley
0.2 mi·50 sec·East Alley
3
At end of road, turn left onto Unity Trestle Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Unity Trestle Road
4
Turn left onto PA 380; Orange Belt
3.9 mi·7 min·Saltsburg Road
5
Turn left onto PA 380
0.2 mi·17 sec·Golden Mile Highway
6
Continue on PA 380
6.0 mi·8 min·Fairview Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 66: Apollo, Greensburg
8
Turn right onto PA 66
0.2 mi·25 sec·Sheridan Road
9
Merge onto PA 66
1.5 mi·2 min·State Route 66
10
Take the exit
424 ft·8 sec
11
Merge onto PA 66
2.2 mi·3 min·State Route 66
12
Continue on PA 66
7.9 mi·11 min·Sheridan Road
13
Continue on PA 56; PA 156
8.7 mi·13 min·PA 56; PA 156
14
Turn right onto US 422; PA 56
4.9 mi·7 min·Benjamin Franklin Highway
15
Take the exit onto US 422 Business
1.9 mi·2 min·US 422 Business
Toward Philadelphia StreetUse the slight left lane.
16
Continue on Philadelphia Street
0.5 mi·47 sec·Philadelphia Street
17
Continue on West Pike Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·West Pike Road
18
Continue on Philadelphia Street
2.4 mi·3 min·Philadelphia Street
19
Take the exit onto PA 286
28 mi·32 min·PA 286
Toward PA 286 East: Clymer
20
Continue on US 219
4.2 mi·4 min·Burnside McGee Highway
21
Continue on US 219
515 ft·6 sec·Burnside - McGees Highway
22
Continue on US 219; PA 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Colonel Drake Highway
23
Continue on US 219; PA 36
0.5 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
24
Continue on US 219
9.8 mi·11 min·Mahaffey Grampian Highway
25
Continue on US 219
0.7 mi·47 sec·1st Street
26
Continue on PA 879
4.7 mi·5 min·Curwensville Grampian Road
27
Continue on PA 879
2.6 mi·2 min·Curwensville Grampian Highway
28
Continue on PA 879
0.4 mi·24 sec·Curwensville Grampain Highway
29
Continue on PA 879
2.0 mi·2 min·Clearfield Curwensville Highway
30
Turn right onto PA 879
4.2 mi·6 min·Clearfield Shawville Highway
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
32
Merge onto I 80
140 mi·2 hr 31 min·Keystone Shortway
33
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
34
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·39 min·I 81
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
36
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
37
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
39
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
40
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
41
Arrive at destination
Wyoming Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour and 33-minute duration, leaving Unity, PA early in the morning is advisable to maximize your daylight and arrive in Scranton with ample time. While this 276.2-mile trip is manageable in a single day, the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests planning for your single recommended stop in advance to break up the journey. The $46 fuel cost is a good estimate, but monitor your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 139.7-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent in those sections.
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 138.1 miles from Unity, PA, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.7 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.1 miles or 2h 56m 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 32m
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 Unity, 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 Unity, PA
This is one driving day of about 276.2 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Unity, 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 139.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.1 mi from Unity, PA
· 2h 56m 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.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 47.6
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
82.9
1
$29.00
$13.26
Efficient EV
69.1
0
$24.17
$11.05
EV Truck/SUV
110.5
1
$38.67
$17.68
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 17, 2026
Origin
Unity, PA
Afternoon
in Unity on Friday
Local time
4:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Afternoon
in Scranton on Friday
Local time
4:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 5 to 8 mph20% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Clearfield, PA
138 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
29 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 33m 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 Unity, PA to Scranton, PA covers 276.2 miles and takes about 5h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 81, PA 286. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.1 miles from Unity, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.79 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 276.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 (East Alley): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Unity Trestle Road): Navigation decision point; at 37.5 miles (US 422 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Unity, 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.
