This 275.4-mile journey from Derry, PA to Erie, PA is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 8 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a smaller portion on Broadway Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, this drive offers a manageable budget for a day trip. The route traverses within the Northeast region, providing a straightforward travel experience. Consider this a solid option for a focused, one-day road trip without the need for an overnight stay.
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
137.7 miles from Derry, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
195 mi
3h 29m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Broadway Road
6 mi
10m
Washingtonville Road
4 mi
7m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Greenleaf Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Crawford Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 195 mi, about 3h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derry, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Crawford Road
0.2 mi·40 sec·Crawford Road
2
Turn left onto Greenleaf Road
0.2 mi·58 sec·Greenleaf Road
3
Turn right onto PA 254
4.0 mi·7 min·Washingtonville Road
4
Continue on PA 254
6.0 mi·10 min·Broadway Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
195 mi·3 hr 29 min·Keystone Shortway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
8
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
10
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive from Derry, PA in the morning will allow ample time to reach Erie, PA comfortably. While the route has only one designated stop, you'll want to plan for additional breaks as needed, especially considering the turn-heavy nature of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost of $46 should be considered, and refuel when opportunities arise. The longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway is 195 miles, so ensure you're prepared for that segment.
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 137.7 miles from Derry, PA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195 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 61 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.7 miles or 2h 36m 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 11m
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 Derry, 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 Derry, PA
This is one driving day of about 275.4 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Derry, 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 195 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 274.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Greenleaf Road
Turn left onto Greenleaf Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 254 / Washingtonville Road
Turn right onto PA 254 / Washingtonville Road
Navigation decision point
6
272.4 mi into trip|~5h 1m 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
272.6 mi into trip|~5h 2m 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
274.9 mi into trip|~5h 7m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.66 one way
$91.32 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$50.01
$100.01
premium
$4.93
$53.41
$106.82
diesel
$5.61
$60.80
$121.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.6
1
$28.92
$13.22
Efficient EV
68.9
0
$24.10
$11.02
EV Truck/SUV
110.2
1
$38.56
$17.63
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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 16, 2026
Origin
Derry, PA
Morning
in Derry on Sunday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph83% 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
21 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
5h 8m 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 turn-heavy local drive for much of this route, with only 24% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 195 miles along the Keystone Shortway. This suggests a driving experience that is more about engaging with the local roads and less about high-speed interstate travel. The character of the drive will likely shift as you transition between these different road types, requiring your attention throughout the 5-hour duration.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Greenleaf Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Greenleaf Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (PA 254 / Washingtonville Road): Navigation decision point; at 272.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 195 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.
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 0.2 miles (Greenleaf Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (PA 254 / Washingtonville Road): Navigation decision point; at 272.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 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.
