Origin
Birchwood Lakes, PA
Night in Birchwood Lakes on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birchwood Lakes, 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
7h 25m
Distance
391.1 mi
629 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 15m
★
6 AM
7h 25m
8 AM
7h 46m
10 AM
7h 32m
12 PM
7h 30m
3 PM
7h 33m
5 PM
7h 45m
8 PM
7h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birchwood Lakes, PA
Virooshan Theva
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Birchwood Lakes, PA, to Erie, PA, covers 391.1 miles and will take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes of driving time. This route is best tackled in a single day, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a portion of the American Legion Memorial Highway also included. Expect a fuel cost around $65 for this journey. The drive offers a mix of highway and local road experiences, so plan for a comfortable pace. Given both the origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you'll remain within familiar territory throughout this adventure.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
195.5 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 239.4 mi | 4h 18m |
| I 79 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 35 mi | 42m |
| I 84 | 33.4 mi | 39m |
| PA-739 | 10.5 mi | 19m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Doolan Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.4 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birchwood Lakes, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Doolan Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Doolan Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto PA 739
11 mi
·
19 min
·
PA-739
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
4
Merge onto I 84
33 mi
·
39 min
·
I 84
5
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
6
Merge onto I 81
35 mi
·
42 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
8
Merge onto I 80
239 mi
·
4 hr 18 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 183A
Toward 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
To make the most of this 7-hour-plus drive, consider an early morning departure from Birchwood Lakes to maximize daylight. With two planned stops, you can break up the 391.1 miles into manageable segments, ensuring you stay refreshed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from major highway corridors, and budget approximately $65 for gas. A practical tip for this specific route: be aware that the "turn-heavy local drive" profile means you'll encounter more varied speed limits and potential for local traffic delays, so adjust your expectations for travel time accordingly.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 195.5 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.4 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 86 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.5 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 16m
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 Birchwood Lakes, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Birchwood Lakes, PA
This is one driving day of about 391.1 miles and 7h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 239.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 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 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 195.5 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 239.4 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 390.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
PA 739 / PA-739
At end of road, turn left onto PA 739 / PA-739
Navigation decision point
5
81.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
6
388.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 17m 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
388.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 18m 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
390.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 23m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.84 one way
$129.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
137 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $71.01 | $142.03 |
| premium | $4.93 | $75.85 | $151.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $86.35 | $172.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.3 | 1 | $41.07 | $18.77 |
| Efficient EV | 97.8 | 1 | $34.22 | $15.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.4 | 1 | $54.75 | $25.03 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Night in Erie on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 14 mph
44% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 4:32PM EDT until April 14 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:51PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
57°F
Wellsville, NY
196 mi in
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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, with only 28% of the journey on highways. While there's a significant stretch of 239.4 miles along the Keystone Shortway, much of the drive will involve navigating more varied local roads. Prepare for a driving experience that requires constant attention as you transition between different road types. The character of the drive changes as you progress, moving from potentially more open highway sections to areas with more frequent turns and local traffic.
Only 28% 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: 239.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near PA 739 / PA-739.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 391.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.9 miles (PA 739 / PA-739): Navigation decision point; at 81.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 388.1 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 7h 25m. Total distance: 391.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.4 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (PA 739 / PA-739): Navigation decision point; at 81.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 388.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.8 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.
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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