Origin
Bell Acres, PA
Afternoon in Bell Acres on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bell Acres, PA to Erie, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
118.6 mi
191 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bell Acres, PA
Jack Pace
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bell Acres, PA to Erie, PA is 118.6 miles and takes about 2h 17m via I 79, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive is entirely within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward trip perfect for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a practical choice if you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route when you need a quick, no-fuss journey through the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.3 miles from Bell Acres, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 109.1 mi | 1h 57m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Wexford Bayne Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Big Sewickley Creek Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Campmeeting Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Rochester Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 109.1 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bell Acres, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on this road
83 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
426 ft
·
33 sec
3
Turn right onto Campmeeting Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Campmeeting Road
4
Continue on Campmeeting Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Campmeeting Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto Red Belt
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Big Sewickley Creek Road
6
Continue on Rochester Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rochester Road
7
Turn slight left onto Orange Belt
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Wexford Bayne Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 79: Erie
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 79
109 mi
·
1 hr 57 min
·
I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
11
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip taking just over two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight, and there's no need to split this drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's an economical choice. Plan for one or two brief stops for stretching or restroom breaks, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road is over 109 miles. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 79 to West 12th Street as you get closer to Erie, as this marks the final segment of your journey.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.3 miles from Bell Acres, PA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.1 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.3 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
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 Bell Acres, 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 Bell Acres, PA
This is one driving day of about 118.6 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Bell Acres, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 79 for about 109.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.3 miles from Bell Acres, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 118.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Turn left toward I 79: Erie
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 79: Erie
5
6.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
115.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m 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
5
115.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
|
PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
118.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.66 one way
$39.32 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $21.53 | $43.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $23.00 | $46.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.19 | $52.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.45 | $5.69 |
| Efficient EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.38 | $4.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.60 | $7.59 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Afternoon in Erie on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
S 16 mph
0% chance
Live 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
3 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 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 92% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 109.1 miles on I 79, meaning the majority of your journey will be at higher speeds with fewer turns. The main roads include I 79, West 12th Street, and Wexford Bayne Road, indicating a transition from interstate to more urban or local roads as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent driving rhythm for most of the trip, with the character shifting slightly only in the final miles.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.1 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and West 12th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Erie, PA
Full guide →Erie is a city of about 100,000 in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's only lake port on the Great Lakes (Lake Erie).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 118.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.1 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Erie, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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