How far is Mercer, PA from Scranton, PA?

The driving distance from Mercer, PA to Scranton, PA is about 281.9 miles (453.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 237.7 miles (382.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
281.9 mi
04h 30m
Flight
237.71 mi
382.56 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mercer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
237.71 mi
Kilometers
382.56 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
281.9 mi
Kilometers
453.68 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scranton
Thu, Apr 23, 7:50 AM EDT
Return by in Mercer
Thu, Apr 23, 12:20 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mercer
2026-04-23T03:20
Arrive Scranton
Thu, Apr 23, 7:50 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:00 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mercer
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Central City
PA

Borough of Pennsylvania

From Mercer
140.7 mi
02h 15m
To Scranton
141.2 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph S
Destination
68°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Mercer and Scranton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mercer and Scranton.

  1. 1

    Start on Erie Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Erie Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Perry Highway

    963 ft · 24 sec · Perry Highway

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Clarion

    1120 ft · 27 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    244.4 mi · 4 hr 23 min · Keystone Shortway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight left toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    32.4 mi · 40 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 307

    835 ft · 22 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto River Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · River Street

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Cedar Avenue

    1591 ft · 31 sec · Cedar Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Adams Avenue

    566 ft · 17 sec · Adams Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Biden Street

    972 ft · 25 sec · Biden Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Wyoming Avenue

    41 m · 5 sec · Wyoming Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wyoming Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mercer and Scranton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
244 mi · 87%
I 81 North
33.1 mi · 12%
Erie Street
2.22 mi · 1%
River Street
0.96 mi
Cedar Avenue
0.3 mi
I 80 East
0.21 mi
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

244 mi · 04h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.2 mi
237.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Central City
02h 15m from Mercer
Leave By
8:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Mercer and Mostly Sunny near Scranton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mercer to Scranton?

The road trip is about 281.9 miles (453.7 km) and usually takes 04h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Central City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 140.7 miles from Mercer and 141.2 miles from Scranton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 237.7 miles (382.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.66 one way or $81.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Mercer and Mostly Sunny near Scranton.

Stop Ideas Near Central City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Central City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Central City.

RAIL

Lewistown

44 mi away
150 Helen Street
RAIL

Tyrone

49 mi away
Pennsylvania Ave and West 10th St.
RAIL

Huntingdon

55 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Altoona Transportation Center

70 mi away
1231 11th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mercer and Scranton. Straight-line distance: 237.71 mi (382.56 km).

Mercer

#1 Mercer

Borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States

Population1,865
Coordinates41.2270000, -80.2397900
Altitude395
CountryUnited States
Scranton

#2 Scranton

The third most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population76,532
Coordinates41.4091600, -75.6649000
Altitude230
CountryUnited States
Start: Erie Street (-80.239945, 41.226998)
End: Wyoming Avenue (-75.664767, 41.409077)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 454 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.95 gal
37.66 L · about $40.66
Round trip
$81.31
19.9 gal · 75.32 L
Estimated CO2
88.4 kg one way
Round trip: 176.9 kg / 390 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $40.66 $81.31
Mid-grade $4.60 $45.76 $91.52
Premium $4.95 $49.29 $98.58
Diesel $5.98 $59.50 $119.00

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Mercer and Scranton. The current time is 03:20:08.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.