Brentwood, PA to Erie, PA is 133.4 miles and takes about 2h 40m via I 79, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, making it a convenient single-day journey. Expect a predominantly highway experience as you head north. With 92% of the drive on highways, this route is built for efficient travel. If you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal fuss, this is a solid choice.
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
66.7 miles from Brentwood, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
111.2 mi
2h
Parkway North
11.6 mi
16m
Saw Mill Run Boulevard
3.5 mi
7m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Liberty Tunnels
1.2 mi
2m
Veterans Bridge
1.1 mi
1m
Liberty Bridge
0.5 mi
<1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 111.2 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brentwood, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on East Willock Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·East Willock Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Olancha Avenue
107 ft·6 sec·Olancha Avenue
3
Turn left onto Drebert Avenue
221 ft·16 sec·Drebert Avenue
4
Turn left onto Marylea Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Marylea Avenue
5
Turn sharp right onto PA 51
1.2 mi·1 min·Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on PA 51; Blue Belt
2.3 mi·5 min·Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on this road
361 ft·12 sec·this road
9
Turn right onto Liberty Tunnels
1.2 mi·2 min·Liberty Tunnels
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on Liberty Bridge
0.5 mi·59 sec·Liberty Bridge
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 579 North
12
Continue on I 579
0.4 mi·48 sec·Crosstown Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 579
1.1 mi·1 min·Veterans Bridge
14
Continue on I 279
12 mi·16 min·Parkway North
15
Merge onto I 79
111 mi·2 hr·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
17
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 111 miles on I 79, so plan for a fuel stop before you embark if your tank is low, as services might be more spaced out during this segment. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting you can largely keep moving. Flexibility is key with shorter drives; you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.7 miles from Brentwood, PA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.2 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 29 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.7 miles or 1h 23m 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 10m
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 Brentwood, 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 Brentwood, PA
This is one driving day of about 133.4 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Brentwood, 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 111.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 133 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Olancha Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Olancha Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|Marylea Avenue
Turn left onto Marylea Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Turn sharp right onto PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
130.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m 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
133 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.12 one way
$44.23 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$24.22
$48.44
premium
$4.93
$25.87
$51.74
diesel
$5.61
$29.45
$58.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40
0
$14.01
$6.40
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.67
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.68
$8.54
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Brentwood, PA
Morning
in Brentwood on Sunday
Local time
10:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
10:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
S 12 to 16 mph0% chanceLive 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
20 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 40m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter stretches on Saw Mill Run Boulevard and Parkway North before merging onto I 79. The bulk of your travel, a continuous 111.2 miles, will be on I 79. This means consistent speeds and a predictable driving experience for most of the trip. It’s a route designed to get you to your destination without many detours or slow-downs.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.2 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Parkway North. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Olancha Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 133.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (Olancha Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Marylea Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 133.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.2 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 0.2 miles (Olancha Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Marylea Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. 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.
