How far is Scranton, PA from Columbia, PA?

The driving distance from Scranton, PA to Columbia, PA is about 131.2 miles (211.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 104.7 miles (168.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
131.21 mi
02h 51m
Flight
104.71 mi
168.51 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Scranton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
104.71 mi
Kilometers
168.51 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
131.21 mi
Kilometers
211.17 km
Drive Time
02h 51m

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 02h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Wed, Apr 15, 10:33 PM EDT
Return by in Scranton
Thu, Apr 16, 1:24 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Scranton
2026-04-15T19:41
Arrive Columbia
Wed, Apr 15, 10:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Scranton
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Port Carbon
PA

Borough in central Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

From Scranton
65.6 mi
01h 25m
To Columbia
65.6 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph SW
Destination
88°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 PM EDT
Wind
13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Wyoming Avenue

    689 ft · 38 sec · Wyoming Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue

    976 ft · 25 sec · Lackawanna Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Cedar Avenue

    1191 ft · 22 sec · Cedar Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Cedar Avenue

    122 m · 13 sec · Cedar Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto River Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · River Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right

    1178 ft · 29 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway

    59.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 61 North: Frackville

    2062 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Skyline Drive

    153 m · 14 sec · Skyline Drive

  10. 10

    Turn uturn onto Skyline Drive

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Skyline Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Joseph H. Long Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Joseph H. Long Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on Pottsville Saint Clair Highway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Pottsville Saint Clair Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on North Claude A. Lord Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Claude A. Lord Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on Pottsville Boulevard

    1152 ft · 15 sec · Pottsville Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on Route 61 South

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Route 61 South

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    532 ft · 15 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Pottsville Street

    3152 ft · 2 min · Pottsville Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Sillyman Street

    1554 ft · 26 sec · South Sillyman Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Chestnut Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Chestnut Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Chestnut Street

    8.6 mi · 13 min · Chestnut Street

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Four Point Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Four Point Road

  22. 22

    Take the ramp right toward I 78 West, US 22 West: Harrisburg

    1198 ft · 29 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto William Penn Highway

    3.6 mi · 4 min · William Penn Highway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 501: Bethel

    806 ft · 29 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Lancaster Avenue

    1546 ft · 43 sec · Lancaster Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Lancaster Avenue

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Lancaster Avenue

  27. 27

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

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Lancaster Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on North College Street

    5.5 mi · 7 min · North College Street

  29. 29

    Continue on Stiegel Pike

    6 mi · 7 min · Stiegel Pike

  30. 30

    Continue on Furnace Hill Pike

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Furnace Hill Pike

  31. 31

    Continue on Furnace Hills Pike

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Furnace Hills Pike

  32. 32

    Continue on North Broad Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · North Broad Street

  33. 33

    Continue on Lititz Pike

    5 mi · 9 min · Lititz Pike

  34. 34

    Take the exit slight right toward York Road

    101 m · 10 sec · York Road

  35. 35

    Merge slight left onto York Road

    108 m · 5 sec · York Road

  36. 36

    Take the exit straight toward US 30 West: York

    942 ft · 23 sec

  37. 37

    Merge slight left

    1499 ft · 23 sec

  38. 38

    Keep slight right to continue on US 30 West: York

    7.5 mi · 10 min

  39. 39

    Take the exit slight right toward Prospect Road

    1618 ft · 48 sec

  40. 40

    Turn left onto Prospect Road

    1278 ft · 33 sec · Prospect Road

  41. 41

    Turn right onto Columbia Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Columbia Avenue

  42. 42

    Continue on Lancaster Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Lancaster Avenue

  43. 43

    Continue on North 5th Street

    950 ft · 22 sec · North 5th Street

  44. 44

    Turn left onto Chestnut Street

    1109 ft · 39 sec · Chestnut Street

  45. 45

    Turn left onto North 3rd Street

    32 m · 4 sec · North 3rd Street

  46. 46

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
46 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
4 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
American Legion Memorial Highway
59.7 mi · 45%
Chestnut Street
9.74 mi · 7%
US 30 West
7.94 mi · 6%
Lancaster Avenue
6.85 mi · 5%
Stiegel Pike
5.97 mi · 5%
North College Street
5.49 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

American Legion Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway

59.7 mi · 01h 10m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.5 mi
104.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Port Carbon
01h 25m from Scranton
Leave By
12:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Scranton and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 131.2 miles (211.2 km) and usually takes 02h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Port Carbon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 65.6 miles from Scranton and 65.6 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 104.7 miles (168.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.92 one way or $37.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 41.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Scranton and Sunny near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Port Carbon

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Port Carbon, 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 Port Carbon.

BUS

White Haven, PA

57 mi away
I-476, Exit 95/I-80, Exit 277, at Hwy 940
BUS

Wilkes-Barre, PA

66 mi away
47 South Washington Street
RAIL

Mount Joy

71 mi away
East Henry St. and North Market St.
RAIL

Elizabethtown station

72 mi away
South Wilson Avenue at West High Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Scranton and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 104.71 mi (168.51 km).

Scranton

#1 Scranton

The third most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population76,532
Coordinates41.4091600, -75.6649000
Altitude230
CountryUnited States
Columbia

#2 Columbia

Borough in western Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States

Population10,295
Coordinates40.0337100, -76.5044100
Altitude92
CountryUnited States
Start: Scranton (-75.6649, 41.40916)
End: Columbia (-76.50441, 40.03371)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 211 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.63 gal
17.53 L · about $18.92
Round trip
$37.84
9.26 gal · 35.06 L
Estimated CO2
41.1 kg one way
Round trip: 82.3 kg / 181 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $18.92 $37.84
Mid-grade $4.60 $21.29 $42.59
Premium $4.95 $22.94 $45.87
Diesel $5.98 $27.69 $55.37

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Scranton and Columbia. The current time is 19:41:48.

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.