Origin
Black Lick, PA
Morning in Black Lick on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Black Lick, 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
3h 15m
Distance
159.7 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Black Lick, PA
Pavel Danilyuk
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 159.7-mile drive from Black Lick, PA to Erie, PA takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a highway share of 98%. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $26. This route focuses on efficient travel across Pennsylvania's Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's ideal for a single day's travel without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.8 miles from Black Lick, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 83.6 mi | 1h 29m |
| US 422 | 51.3 mi | 1h 10m |
| PA 56 | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| US 119 | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Palmerton Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 83.6 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Black Lick, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Cripps Street
165 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cripps Street
2
Turn left onto Palmerton Road
466 ft
·
12 sec
·
Palmerton Road
3
Continue on Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto US 119
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
US 119
5
Take the exit onto PA 56
12 mi
·
16 min
·
PA 56
Exit B
Toward US 422 West: Kittanning
6
Continue on US 422
13 mi
·
17 min
·
US 422
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 422
39 mi
·
52 min
·
US 422
8
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 79 North: Erie
9
Merge onto I 79
84 mi
·
1 hr 29 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
With a total duration of just over three hours, this trip is best tackled in a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Black Lick to maximize daylight and arrive in Erie with ample time. While the drive is efficient, plan for at least one brief stop around the halfway mark, perhaps near the longest stretch on I-79, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. The $26 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 83.6-mile segment on I-79.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.8 miles from Black Lick, PA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.6 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 35 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 41m
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 Black Lick, 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 Black Lick, PA
This is one driving day of about 159.7 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Black Lick, 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 I 79 for about 83.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.8 miles from Black Lick, 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 83.6 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 0 and 159.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Palmerton Road
Turn left onto Palmerton Road
Navigation decision point
5
9.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
PA 56
Take the exit onto PA 56 toward US 422 West: Kittanning
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit B
Toward US 422 West: Kittanning
5
73.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
156.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 8m 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
159.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.48 one way
$52.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $29.00 | $57.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $30.97 | $61.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.26 | $70.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.77 | $7.67 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.97 | $6.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.36 | $10.22 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Morning in Erie on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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
13 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
3h 15m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 98% of the route utilizing major roads like I-79, US-422, and PA-56. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 83.6 miles on I-79, offering a chance to settle in for a significant portion of the journey. This profile suggests a drive characterized by consistent speeds and straightforward navigation, minimizing time spent on slower, local roads. You'll likely experience a steady pace as you traverse the landscape.
98% 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: 83.6 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and US 422. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Palmerton Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 15m 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: near the start (Palmerton Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.4 miles (PA 56): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 73.1 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 15m. Total distance: 159.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.6 miles on I 79. 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.
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: near the start (Palmerton Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.4 miles (PA 56): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 73.1 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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