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Trip from Bradford Woods, 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 10m

Distance

114.7 mi

185 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 1m ★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Bradford Woods, PA, PA

Bradford Woods, PA

Keith Lowery

Downtown Erie, PA, PA

Erie, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Bradford Woods to Erie is 114.7 miles and takes about 2h 10m via I 79, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It’s a straightforward drive, largely on the interstate, making it an easy option if you're looking for a quick and efficient journey. You'll spend most of your time on I-79, so don't expect a lot of winding country roads or charming small towns right off the highway. This route is ideal for a single-day trip, especially if you want to maximize your time at your destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

57.3 miles from Bradford Woods, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 79 109.1 mi 1h 57m
West 12th Street 2.3 mi 4m
Wexford Run Road 1.3 mi 3m
Wexford Bayne Road 0.9 mi 1m
State Street 0.4 mi 1m
Bradford Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 79 — 109.1 mi, about 1h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bradford Woods, PA and Erie, PA.

1

Start on Bradford Road

62 ft · 5 sec · Bradford Road
2

Turn left onto Wexford Run Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · Wexford Run Road
3

Turn right onto PA 910; Orange Belt

0.9 mi · 1 min · Wexford Bayne Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 79: Erie Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 79

109 mi · 1 hr 57 min · I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 49 sec
Exit 183A Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
7

Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290

2.3 mi · 4 min · West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Turn left onto State Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · State Street
Use the left lane.
9

Arrive at destination

State Street

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 10m duration, this drive is easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave in the morning will allow you to arrive in Erie with plenty of daylight. Since the longest stretch is 109.1 miles on I-79, plan for a single fuel stop if needed, likely before you merge onto the interstate or as you approach Erie. There are no designated stops mentioned, so consider pulling off at a rest area on I-79 if you need a break. Keep an eye out for the transition from Wexford Run Road onto I-79 as your primary entry point onto the highway.

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 57.3 miles from Bradford Woods, PA, or about 1h 4m 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 25 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 57.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 44m

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 Bradford Woods, 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 Bradford Woods, PA

This is one driving day of about 114.7 miles and 2h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Bradford Woods, 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.

borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mercer, PA

57 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.

Popular next leg

Mercer, PA to Erie, PA

69.8 mi · 1h 21m

Pacing Suggestions

Ellwood City, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mercer, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.3 miles from Bradford Woods, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Valenza Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 73.7

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18147241222

Visit website

The Factory Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Saegertown, Pennsylvania

2.8 mi

Valenza Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 73.7

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18147241222

Visit website

The Factory Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 81.9

Saegertown, Pennsylvania

Hours: 6 am–1:30 pm

+18147633517

Visit website

Rainbow Valley Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 57.3

Hadley, Pennsylvania

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17242532208

Visit website

Camelot Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 32.8

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Hours: 5 am–3 pm

+17247945005

Visit website

Bicentennial Tower

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 114.7

Erie, Pennsylvania

Hours: Closed

+18144347376

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 114.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | PA 910; Orange Belt / Wexford Bayne Road

Turn right onto PA 910; Orange Belt / Wexford Bayne Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 79: Erie

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 79: Erie
5
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 79

Merge onto I 79

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
111.7 mi into trip | ~2h 3m 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
114.2 mi into trip | ~2h 9m in | State Street

Turn left onto State Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.02 one way

$38.03 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $20.83 $41.65
premium $4.93 $22.24 $44.49
diesel $5.61 $25.32 $50.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.4 0 $12.04 $5.51
Efficient EV 28.7 0 $10.04 $4.59
EV Truck/SUV 45.9 0 $16.06 $7.34

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Bradford Woods, PA

Morning in Bradford Woods on Sunday

Local time

10:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Erie, PA

Morning in Erie on Sunday

Local time

10:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Patchy Fog

SE 2 to 15 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

2 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 10m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience 109.1 miles of uninterrupted travel on I-79, offering a consistent pace for the majority of your journey. While Wexford Run Road and West 12th Street will guide you at the beginning and end, the bulk of this trip is about efficient interstate travel. Expect a smooth, predictable driving experience with minimal distractions, allowing you to cover ground quickly. The profile suggests a clear path with few deviations from high-speed travel.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 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?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and West 12th Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near PA 910; Orange Belt / Wexford Bayne Road.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Bradford Woods, PA to Erie, PA is easy. At 2h 10m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (PA 910; Orange Belt / Wexford Bayne Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 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 2h 10m. Total distance: 114.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). 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 1.3 miles (PA 910; Orange Belt / Wexford Bayne Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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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Explore more options from Bradford Woods, PA or browse trips ending in Erie, PA.

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