The drive from Willow Street, PA to Scranton, PA covers 125.7 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, PA 183, Lititz Pike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.6 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.22 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
62.8 miles from Willow Street, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m 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 2h 50m. Total distance: 125.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Willow Street, PA to Scranton, PA covers 125.7 miles and takes about 2h 50m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 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 59.6 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street.
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 125.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 5.5 miles (US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.5 mi into trip|~13m in|US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street
Navigation decision point
7
37.1 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
7
40.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward PA 419: Rehrersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward PA 419: Rehrersburg
7
125 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|Cedar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
125.4 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|Biden Street
Turn left onto Biden Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
59.6 mi
1h 10m
PA 183
9.9 mi
15m
Lititz Pike
6.1 mi
11m
Stiegel Pike
6 mi
6m
Lancaster Avenue
5.5 mi
6m
South College Street
5.5 mi
6m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Furnace Hill Pike
4.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willow Street, PA and Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
32 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto PA 272
3.4 mi·7 min·Willow Street Pike
3
Continue on US 222; PA 272
0.2 mi·32 sec·Highland Avenue
4
Continue on US 222; PA 272
1.8 mi·5 min·South Queen Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto East Liberty Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·East Liberty Street
6
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272
490 ft·18 sec·North Duke Street
7
Continue on US 222; PA 272
6.1 mi·11 min·Lititz Pike
8
Continue on PA 501
1.7 mi·2 min·South Broad Street
9
Continue on PA 501
2.4 mi·3 min·Furnace Hills Pike
10
Continue on PA 501
4.2 mi·4 min·Furnace Hill Pike
11
Continue on PA 501
6.0 mi·6 min·Stiegel Pike
12
Continue on PA 501
5.5 mi·6 min·South College Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on PA 501
4.1 mi·4 min·Lancaster Avenue
14
Continue on PA 501
1.2 mi·1 min·Lancaster Avenue
15
Continue on PA 501
0.2 mi·31 sec·Lancaster Avenue
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
17
Merge onto I 78; US 22
3.5 mi·4 min·William Penn Highway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 17Toward PA 419: RehrersburgUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto PA 419
1.9 mi·2 min·Four Point Road
20
Turn left onto PA 183
9.9 mi·15 min·PA 183
21
Turn right onto PA 183
0.7 mi·2 min·Pottsville Street
22
Turn left onto PA 61
2.9 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
23
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
24
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi·2 min·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
25
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
26
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
28
Merge onto I 81
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 81
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 307
30
Turn left onto River Street
1.0 mi·1 min·River Street
31
At end of road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on Adams Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Adams Avenue
33
Turn left onto Biden Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Biden Street
34
Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue
135 ft·4 sec·Wyoming Avenue
35
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 62.8 miles from Willow Street, PA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.6 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 28 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 33m 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 21m
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 Willow Street, 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 Willow Street, PA
This is one driving day of about 125.7 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Willow Street, 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 I 81 for about 59.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.8 mi from Willow Street, PA
· 1h 33m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 30.3
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.03
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$11.00
$5.03
EV Truck/SUV
50.3
0
$17.60
$8.04
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Willow Street, PA
Morning
in Willow Street on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scranton, PA
Morning
in Scranton on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 2 to 14 mph3% chanceLive 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
2h 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Willow Street, PA to Scranton, PA covers 125.7 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, PA 183, Lititz Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.8 miles from Willow Street, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.22 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 125.7 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 5.5 miles (US 222; PA 272 / North Duke Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Willow Street, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
