Going Around Scranton, North on 81

Richard in Florida

Richard in Florida

Well-known member
Looks like the cleanest way would be to leave 81 SW of Scranton, get on 315 until it puts me onto I-476 (PA Turnpike?); then take 476 west of Scranton and join back up with 81.

Does that work? Is there a better plan? I don't want to go through Scranton.
 
Last edited:
If memory serves me, 81 wasn't too bad going through Scranton but it has been a number of years since I've driven through there and I was in my daily driver.
 
I don't get off 81 when I go through Scranton, just not a big time savings. Also the PA turnpike is a toll road so you stop getting on and getting off.

I am driving my suggested route tomarrow afternoon so I can report back. The only place (other than accidents or construction) that I hit bad traffic on 81 is Harrisburg and there is not a good way around it that I have found.
 
Last edited:
Scranton is not bad as long as you dont hit commuter traffic. Any time between 9 am and 3 pm or week end days should be OK.
 
A scenic wonder of the Scranton area...you go past a huge slag heap tha looks just like the Devil's Tower, the mountain in "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind"!! I used to love that area for spotting old cars, but I'm sure they have all been cleared out from behind the filling stations and the junkyards are now all dead datsuns...
 
If I head toward Binghamton or where ever, I like to take Route 11 north out of Scranton. It's the old Lackawanna Trail. It used to be the main line of the DL&W before they built the new line. Lots of old buildings, gas stations, junk yard along this route. It's just a little messy getting thru Clarks Summit. It goes right past Tunkhannock (sp?) Viaduct, a wonder of the early 20th century.
 
I live just north of Scranton. 81 and the turnpike parallel each other in the Scranton area. You can get off of 81 and onto the turnpike for the last 10 or 15 miles and then get back on 81 at the end of the turnpike. It would be a lot easier to just go thru Scranton on 81. Traffic can get a little thick during rush hour but it never stops or slows way down except for construction zones. As for Rt 315 I would stay off of it - you would be on 315 for about a half mile if you get off of 81 at the turnpike exit and take the turnpike and get back on 81. Rt. 11 is the route that I take when there is construction on 81. You can get on the PennDot website and find out where the construction zones are. Maybe on the turnpike website too. Have a safe trip. Are you driving north on the holiday weekend? One other thing - Pa. roads are in horrible shape and PennDot is not capable of fixing them (too busy eating donuts and leaning on shovels). Watch for potholes.
 
Regarding PennDOT- I once heard that the Pennsylvania official joke has been printed up onto big signs which they post around the state. They say "MEN WORKING."
 
I'm always amazed at how much great information come shooting back at you on this forum, and how quickly it arrives. Thank you all.

This trip is in the murky future. Several key events must fall perfectly into alignment before I can cut any metal on it. I'm just planning ahead.

Thanks some more.
 
81 in Harrisburg is typically only really bad at rush hour, and not near as bad at 83.... I drive home from work in Harrisburg, to Grantville, on 81 North around 2:30pm each day and its pretty clear sailin'.

Also, I come in at 5:45am and there is no one on the road!

Have a safe trip
Zach
 
Richard,

I grew up in the NY, MA, VT border so if you need info for the top part of the trip let me know. I drive it alot.
 
Bruce Lancaster said:
I heard Pennsylvania DOT is laying off half its staff next year...seems someone has invented a shovel that will stand up by itself!
Click to expand...

I beleive they even eliminated the shovel...
The past 2 days I've gone through a "men working" - "flagger ahead" - "one lane road ahead" set of signs.... and ..... nothing... no traffic obstruction and no signs of any work at all being done?

Nice signs though! :)
 
SUHRsc said:
I beleive they even eliminated the shovel...
The past 2 days I've gone through a "men working" - "flagger ahead" - "one lane road ahead" set of signs.... and ..... nothing... no traffic obstruction and no signs of any work at all being done?

Nice signs though! :)
Click to expand...
These things take time, they have the signs up, don't they?? give them some more time.
 
the real problem with 81 N is that north of harrisburg there are no good routes that parallel it....if you go off into the local roads they are slow, narrow twisty, you lose cell coverage and you may never get out of them.....beautiful mountains but not for the person who doesnt know the area.....now you have other options to get to 84 north though.....you can take the pa tnpk to Allentown take 33 north to stroudsburg and then rte 209 from stroudsburg along the delaware and it will intersect with 84 at milford PA. i have driven all those roads and they are ok. rte 209 is beautiful along the delaware and is truck restricted, i actually dont mind the Pa tnpk.
 
your trip of course, but 84 to the taconic parkway (which is a great scenic run north of 84, horrible south of 84) to 90 to 787 to 7 will save a lot of time. 22 to 7 is a nice route as well. just food for thought. Then again your road will take you by Dick Spadaro's and you can do some shopping....LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top