Spanning 369.5 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Belfast to Erie takes approximately 6 hours and 51 minutes. While it is technically feasible as a long 1-day trek, the route’s turn-heavy nature makes it a demanding drive. You should budget about $61 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via PA 33, the Keystone Shortway, and I-79, you will transition from the Northeast region toward your destination. It is a practical trip if you are prepared for a full day behind the wheel, though you might consider an overnight stop if you prefer a more relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
184.7 miles from Belfast, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
282.4 mi
5h 8m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
PA 33
16.8 mi
22m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Belfast Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Henry Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Sullivan Trail
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 282.4 mi, about 5h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belfast, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Sullivan Trail
83 ft·7 sec·Sullivan Trail
2
Turn sharp right onto Belfast Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Belfast Road
3
Turn slight left onto Henry Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Henry Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto PA 33
14 mi·18 min·PA 33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 33
3.1 mi·4 min·PA 33
Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, HazletonUse the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 80 West: HazletonUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 80
282 mi·5 hr 8 min·Keystone Shortway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
10
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
12
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Planning for this 6-hour and 51-minute journey is key to staying comfortable on the road. Since the itinerary includes one recommended stop, use that time strategically to stretch and refuel before tackling the final leg of the trip. Aim to depart early in the morning to navigate the turn-heavy local sections during daylight hours, which helps with visibility and overall road safety. Given the $61 fuel estimate, check your vehicle’s range against the 369.5-mile distance to ensure you don't need extra time for fueling. Keep your pace steady, especially when moving off the Keystone Shortway and onto the more technical local roads.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.7 miles from Belfast, PA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 282.4 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 81 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.7 miles or 3h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Erie, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belfast, 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 Belfast, PA
This is one driving day of about 369.5 miles and 6h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Belfast, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 282.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 369 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Belfast Road
Turn sharp right onto Belfast Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
14.1 mi into trip|~19m in|PA 33
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 33 toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
6
17.2 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
6
366.5 mi into trip|~6h 44m in
Take the exit toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
6
369 mi into trip|~6h 50m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.26 one way
$122.52 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$67.09
$134.18
premium
$4.93
$71.66
$143.32
diesel
$5.61
$81.58
$163.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.9
1
$38.80
$17.74
Efficient EV
92.4
1
$32.33
$14.78
EV Truck/SUV
147.8
1
$51.73
$23.65
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Belfast, PA
Late night
in Belfast on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Widespread Fog
SW 2 to 7 mph38% 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
17 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
6h 51m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 12.7
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
Park Closure: Dingmans Falls Trail, Road, and Access Closed for Bridge Replacement
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience as you transition between different road types throughout the state. With only 22% of the trip spent on highways, you will encounter a significant amount of local driving that requires your full attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 282.4 miles along the Keystone Shortway, which provides the most consistent portion of your travel. Be prepared for a turn-heavy local drive that contrasts sharply with the longer interstate segments. This mix keeps the drive engaging, though it requires more active navigation than a standard highway-only route.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 282.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Belfast Road.
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 369.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Belfast Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.1 miles (PA 33): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 51m. Total distance: 369.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 282.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Erie, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Belfast Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.1 miles (PA 33): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Erie, PA before the return drive.
