This 317.6-mile journey from Cressona, PA to Erie, PA will take approximately 5 hours and 55 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a segment on Locust Gap Highway, this route covers 21% highway driving. With a fuel cost estimated at $53 and a single recommended stop, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, offering a direct path across Pennsylvania. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the journey contained within familiar territory.
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
158.8 miles from Cressona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
204 mi
3h 39m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Locust Gap Highway
11.5 mi
13m
South Market Street
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
Gordon Nagle Trail
4 mi
6m
Continental Boulevard
3 mi
3m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 204 mi, about 3h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cressona, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Zerbe Street
74 ft·3 sec·Zerbe Street
2
Continue on Front Street
0.2 mi·58 sec·Front Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto PA 183
224 ft·5 sec·Chestnut Street
4
Continue on PA 183
0.5 mi·53 sec·South Sillyman Street
5
Continue on PA 901
4.0 mi·6 min·Gordon Nagle Trail
6
Turn left onto US 209; PA 901
277 ft·11 sec·West Market Street
7
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi·2 min·Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi·1 min·East Sunbury Street
9
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi·11 min·Sunbury Road
10
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
11
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi·43 sec·Locust Gap Highway
12
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi·13 min·Locust Gap Highway
13
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·South Market Street
14
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi·45 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
18
Merge onto I 80
204 mi·3 hr 39 min·Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
20
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
22
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 317.6-mile distance and 5 hour and 55 minute duration, departing Cressona, PA in the early morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With a fuel cost around $53, monitor your fuel levels, especially before longer stretches like the 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway. While only one stop is officially recommended, plan for additional brief breaks as needed. The turn-heavy nature of this route means you should be prepared for more frequent steering adjustments and potentially slower speeds on local road segments.
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 158.8 miles from Cressona, PA, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204 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 70 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.8 miles or 3h 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 49m
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 Cressona, 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 Cressona, PA
This is one driving day of about 317.6 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Cressona, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 204 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 317.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 183 / Chestnut Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 183 / Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
40.2 mi into trip|~51m in|PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
314.6 mi into trip|~5h 48m 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
5
314.9 mi into trip|~5h 48m in|PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
317.2 mi into trip|~5h 53m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.65 one way
$105.31 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$57.67
$115.34
premium
$4.93
$61.59
$123.19
diesel
$5.61
$70.12
$140.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.3
1
$33.35
$15.24
Efficient EV
79.4
0
$27.79
$12.70
EV Truck/SUV
127
1
$44.46
$20.33
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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
Cressona, PA
Morning
in Cressona on Sunday
Local time
11:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
11:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
S 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
71°F
Clearfield, PA
159 mi in
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
5h 55m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a route that's less about monotonous interstate cruising and more about engaging with the landscape. With only 21% of the drive on highways, you'll experience a turn-heavy local drive feel. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 204 miles along the Keystone Shortway. As you progress, the road will likely transition between faster highway segments and more varied local road conditions, requiring your attention throughout the 5 hour and 55 minute journey.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 204 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near PA 183 / Chestnut Street.
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 317.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (PA 183 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 314.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 317.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204 miles on Keystone Shortway. 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 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 0.3 miles (PA 183 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 314.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 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.
