Concord, PA to Erie, PA is 284.2 miles and takes about 5h 23m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-79, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, traveling from one point in Pennsylvania to another. It's a largely highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. You'll find it's a practical route for getting from your starting point to your destination without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
142.1 miles from Concord, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
160.7 mi
2h 55m
I 79
105.2 mi
1h 53m
Path Valley Road
13.4 mi
23m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Willow Hill Interchange
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 160.7 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 75
13 mi·23 min·Path Valley Road
2
Turn right onto Willow Hill Interchange
0.3 mi·29 sec·Willow Hill Interchange
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PATP
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
5
Merge onto I 76; PATP
161 mi·2 hr 55 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 28Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, CranberryUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: ErieUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 79
105 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward 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
Given the 5h 23m estimated drive time, starting in the morning will allow you to reach Erie with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a substantial longest stretch of 160.7 miles, plan your break strategically. Consider fueling up before you depart Concord, PA, as the $47 fuel cost is an estimate and prices can fluctuate. The 94% highway share means you'll be on fast-moving roads for most of the trip, so be mindful of traffic, especially as you approach larger towns.
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 142.1 miles from Concord, PA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.7 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 63 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.1 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
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 Concord, 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 Concord, PA
This is one driving day of about 284.2 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Concord, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 160.7 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 13.8 and 283.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.8 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
8
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
175.5 mi into trip|~3h 21m 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
281.2 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
283.8 mi into trip|~5h 22m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.12 one way
$94.23 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$51.60
$103.21
premium
$4.93
$55.12
$110.23
diesel
$5.61
$62.75
$125.50
Estimated Tolls: $20.89
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(160.7 mi)$20.89
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
$47
Tolls
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.84
$13.64
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
EV Truck/SUV
113.7
1
$39.79
$18.19
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Concord, PA
Morning
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 14 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 16 to 20 mph94% 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
10 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
5h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 88.2
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 68.6
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 117.6
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 94% of the drive taking place on major roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-79. You can expect long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 160.7 miles primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. While Path Valley Road is mentioned, the overall character is that of a swift, efficient drive. The landscape will likely consist of typical highway scenery as you cover the 284.2 miles.
94% 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: 160.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 79. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 284.2 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 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 174.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.5 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 Concord, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Warrendale and Cranberry.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 284.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 160.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $20.89 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 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 174.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Flight 93 National Memorial, Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Fort Necessity National Battlefield (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Erie, PA before the return drive.
