Blairsville, PA to Erie, PA is 165.3 miles and takes about 3h 19m via I 79 and Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, traversing Pennsylvania from west to east before heading north. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. If you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points, this route offers a practical solution.
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
82.6 miles from Blairsville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
105.2 mi
1h 53m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
27.7 mi
29m
William Penn Highway
24.4 mi
37m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Northern Pike
1.8 mi
3m
Bairdstown Road
0.7 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Market Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 105.2 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blairsville, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on this road
58 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Market Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Market Street
3
Enter roundabout onto West Market Street
78 ft·1 sec·West Market Street
4
Continue on West Market Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Market Street
5
Continue on Bairdstown Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Bairdstown Road
6
Turn right onto Jonnet Road
398 ft·10 sec·Jonnet Road
7
Turn left onto US 22; US 119
24 mi·37 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Turn left onto Northern Pike
1.8 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto PA 48; Orange Belt
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mosside Boulevard
10
Turn right onto Daugherty Drive
183 ft·12 sec·Daugherty Drive
11
Turn right
421 ft·36 sec
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward I 76 West: OhioUse the straight lane.
14
Merge onto I 76; PATP
28 mi·29 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 28Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, CranberryUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: ErieUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 79
105 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
20
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 19m estimated duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip. You could easily start in the morning and arrive by midday. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $27, planning is minimal. The longest stretch on I 79 is over 100 miles, so consider fueling up before you hit that segment to ensure a smooth journey. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
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 82.6 miles from Blairsville, PA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 36 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.6 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 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 Blairsville, 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 Blairsville, PA
This is one driving day of about 165.3 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Blairsville, 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 105.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.9 and 164.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
27.9 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: Ohio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 76 West: Ohio
8
56 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, Cranberry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28
Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendal...
7
56.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 79 North: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 79 North: Erie
6
162.3 mi into trip|~3h 12m 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
164.8 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.40 one way
$54.81 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$30.01
$60.03
premium
$4.93
$32.06
$64.12
diesel
$5.61
$36.50
$72.99
Estimated Tolls: $3.61
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(27.7 mi)$3.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.6
0
$17.36
$7.93
Efficient EV
41.3
0
$14.46
$6.61
EV Truck/SUV
66.1
0
$23.14
$10.58
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Blairsville, PA
Afternoon
in Blairsville on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Afternoon
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
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
8 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 19m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 80% highway experience on this route, which means you'll spend most of your time on faster-paced roads like I 79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 105.2 miles on I 79, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While the profile is highway-focused, you'll still encounter sections of the William Penn Highway, offering a change of pace from the interstates. This blend allows for efficient travel while still providing some variety.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.2 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Pennsylvania Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 165.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Blairsville, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Warrendale and Cranberry.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 165.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.2 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.61 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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: at 27.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
