Spanning 166.7 miles, your journey from Brookville to Harrisburg is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 55 minutes. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should plan for a single day of travel rather than an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $28 on fuel for the trek across the Pennsylvania landscape. You will navigate via E Main St, State Route 28 North, and the Keystone Shortway to reach the capital. This route is perfectly manageable as a day trip, offering a practical way to connect these two Northeast locations without the need for complex logistics.
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
83.3 miles from Brookville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
General Potter Highway
78.2 mi
1h 40m
Keystone Shortway
41 mi
43m
28th Division Highway
8.6 mi
9m
Philipsburg Bigler Highway
7.1 mi
8m
Mount Nittany Expressway
6.2 mi
8m
Port Matilda Highway
5.9 mi
8m
I 99
4 mi
4m
Woodland Bigler Highway
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
General Potter Highway
— 78.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookville, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on US 322; PA 28
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Continue on US 322; PA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·E Main St
3
Continue on US 322; PA 28
1.1 mi·1 min·State Route 28 North
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
41 mi·43 min·Keystone Shortway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
7
Merge onto PA 970
1.4 mi·1 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
9
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
10
Continue on US 322
0.3 mi·23 sec·North Front Street
11
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Centre Street
12
Turn left onto US 322
1.1 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
13
Continue on US 322
5.9 mi·8 min·Port Matilda Highway
14
Turn slight right onto US 322
2.2 mi·3 min·Upper Flat Rock Road
15
Continue on US 322
1.8 mi·2 min·Flat Rock Road
16
Continue on US 322
8.6 mi·9 min·28th Division Highway
Toward US 322 East: State College
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
6.2 mi·8 min·Mount Nittany Expressway
Exit 73Toward US 322 East: Penn State University, State College
19
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
78 mi·1 hr 40 min·General Potter Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Herr Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Herr Street
22
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·North 7th Street
23
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 55-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. Budget for at least one stop to break up the drive, which helps keep you alert on these more technical local roads. Since your fuel costs will hover around $28, filling up before you leave Brookville is a smart way to avoid searching for stations along the more rural segments of the trip. Keep an eye on your turn-by-turn navigation, as the reliance on E Main St and local routes means you will encounter more intersections than a standard highway drive. Staying attentive to signage will ensure you reach Harrisburg without any unnecessary detours.
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 83.3 miles from Brookville, PA, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.2 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 37 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.3 miles or 1h 39m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brookville, 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 Brookville, PA
This is one driving day of about 166.7 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Brookville, 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 General Potter Highway for about 78.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.4 and 79.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
43.4 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
5
43.7 mi into trip|~49m in|PA 970 / Shawville Highway
Merge onto PA 970 / Shawville Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
45.2 mi into trip|~51m in|US 322 / Woodland Bigler Highway
Turn left onto US 322 / Woodland Bigler Highway
Navigation decision point
6
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|US 322 / Mount Nittany Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 / Mount Nittany Expressway toward US 322 East: Penn State University, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 73
Toward US 322 East: Penn State University, Stat...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.64 one way
$55.27 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$30.27
$60.54
premium
$4.93
$32.33
$64.66
diesel
$5.61
$36.81
$73.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50
0
$17.50
$8.00
Efficient EV
41.7
0
$14.59
$6.67
EV Truck/SUV
66.7
0
$23.34
$10.67
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Brookville, PA
Morning
in Brookville on Sunday
Local time
10:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Harrisburg, PA
Morning
in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
10:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
18 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
3h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this path is defined by its turn-heavy, local road personality. With 0% of the route categorized as highway, you will find yourself navigating local thoroughfares rather than monotonous multi-lane expressways. The drive requires your full attention as you transition between local streets and regional routes. Because of the winding nature of these roads, you will spend most of your time behind the wheel adjusting to the rhythm of local traffic rather than cruising at high speeds. It is an engaging, hands-on driving experience that demands a bit more focus than a typical high-speed corridor.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.2 mi on General Potter Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 43.4 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 166.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles (PA 970 / Shawville Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles (US 322 / Woodland Bigler Highway): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brookville, PA and Harrisburg, PA, road signs point toward Shawville and State College.
Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 166.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.2 miles on General Potter Highway. 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 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 Harrisburg, 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 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles (PA 970 / Shawville Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles (US 322 / Woodland Bigler Highway): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Harrisburg, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
