Origin
West Chester, PA
Evening in West Chester on Sunday
Local time
7:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Chester, PA to City of Scranton, PA
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
131.8 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Chester, PA
Michael Taccetta
City of Scranton, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
The drive from West Chester, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 131.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, West Chester Bypass, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.81 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
65.9 miles from West Chester, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 37m highway drive covering 131.8 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and West Chester Bypass. The longest continuous stretch is about 94.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the longest continuous segment at about 94.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,844 ft
165 ft
Total Climb
1,938 ft
Total Descent
1,630 ft
Highest Point
1,844 ft
~109.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,679 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and West Chester Bypass. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 131.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
17.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Mall Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mall Boulevard
7
18.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
8
18.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 East: Allentown, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 276 East: Allentown, New York City
7
26.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Northeast Extension, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 476 North: Northeast Extension, Allent...
7
131.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
|
Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between West Chester, PA and City of Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg, New York City, Allentown and Scranton.
Harrisburg
17.6 mi in
|
~27m
New York City
18.7 mi in
|
~29m
Allentown
26.3 mi in
|
~37m
Scranton
121 mi in
|
~2h 23m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 94.3 mi | 1h 44m |
| West Chester Bypass | 15.6 mi | 21m |
| I 81 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 7.3 mi | 7m |
| River Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Market Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Paoli Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 94.3 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Chester, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on Patton Alley
196 ft
·
16 sec
·
Patton Alley
2
Turn right onto North Church Street
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Church Street
3
Turn left onto US 322 BUS
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Market Street
4
Turn straight
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Paoli Pike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
5
Turn straight onto Paoli Pike
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Paoli Pike
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 202 North, US 322 West
7
Merge onto US 202; US 322
16 mi
·
21 min
·
West Chester Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward Mall Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
11
Merge onto I 76
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Schuylkill Expressway
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 276 East: Allentown, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 276; PATP
7.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476 North: Northeast Extension, Allentown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 476; PATP
94 mi
·
1 hr 44 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward PA 315 North: Scranton
18
Merge onto PA 315
523 ft
·
8 sec
·
Chestnut Street
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Scranton
20
Merge onto I 81
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 81
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 307
22
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
Cedar 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 65.9 miles from West Chester, PA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.3 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.9 miles or 1h 22m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Chester, 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 West Chester, PA
This is one driving day of about 131.8 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Chester, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 94.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.9 mi from West Chester, PA · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.9 miles from West Chester, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.3 miles.
Arriving in City of Scranton, PA
The final approach into City of 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 City of Scranton, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.81 one way
$43.62 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $23.86 | $47.73 |
| premium | $4.92 | $25.54 | $51.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.28 | $58.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $13.21
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(101.6 mi)
$13.21
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.84 | $6.33 |
| Efficient EV | 33 | 0 | $11.53 | $5.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.45 | $8.44 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
City of Scranton, PA
Evening in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
7:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
3 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 37m 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 West Chester, PA to City of Scranton, PA covers 131.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, West Chester Bypass, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.9 miles from West Chester, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.81 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 131.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Chester, PA and City of Scranton, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg, New York City, Allentown and Scranton.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 165 ft to 1,844 ft elevation with about 1,938 ft of total climbing.
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Return Trip
City of Scranton, PA to West Chester, PAPlan the drive back the other way.
131.1 mi
2h 34m
Continue From City of Scranton, PA
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