East Bangor, PA to Erie, PA is 365.9 miles and takes about 6h 54m via Keystone Shortway and I 79, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a single-day trip that predominantly uses surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this route within daylight hours.
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
182.9 miles from East Bangor, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
287.2 mi
5h 15m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Bangor Mountain Road
3.8 mi
6m
Fox Gap Road
3.6 mi
7m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
North Broad Street
0.9 mi
3m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Broad Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 287.2 mi, about 5h 15m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,084 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,463
Quietest
2 AM
~184 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Bangor, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 512
36 ft·1 sec·Mount Bethel Highway
2
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.9 mi·3 min·North Broad Street
3
Continue on Fox Gap Road
3.6 mi·7 min·Fox Gap Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto PA 191
0.4 mi·29 sec·Valley View Drive
5
Continue on PA 191
3.8 mi·6 min·Bangor Mountain Road
6
Continue on PA 191
0.4 mi·1 min·Broad Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 80 West, US 209 South: Hazelton
8
Merge onto I 80; US 209
1.5 mi·2 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
286 mi·5 hr 13 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
11
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
13
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 54-minute duration, departing in the morning will allow you to reach Erie with time to spare before evening. While the drive is manageable in one day, consider breaking it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace, perhaps with an overnight near the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially on the longer Keystone Shortway segment where services might be spaced further apart. Plan your one stop strategically to maximize rest and refreshment.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 182.9 miles from East Bangor, PA, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 287.2 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.9 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 45m
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 East Bangor, 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 East Bangor, PA
This is one driving day of about 365.9 miles and 6h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from East Bangor, 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 287.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 365.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~10m in|PA 191 / Valley View Drive
At end of road, turn right onto PA 191 / Valley View Drive
Navigation decision point
6
9 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West, US 209 South: Hazelton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West, US 209 South: Hazelton
5
9.2 mi into trip|~19m in|I 80; US 209 / Keystone Shortway
Merge onto I 80; US 209 / Keystone Shortway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
362.9 mi into trip|~6h 47m 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
365.4 mi into trip|~6h 52m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.34 one way
$116.68 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg128 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$64.57
$129.13
premium
$4.81
$69.26
$138.52
diesel
$4.80
$69.09
$138.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.8
1
$38.42
$17.56
Efficient EV
91.5
1
$32.02
$14.64
EV Truck/SUV
146.4
1
$51.23
$23.42
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
East Bangor, PA
Late night
in East Bangor on Monday
Local time
4:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Smoke
NW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Monday
Local time
4:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
E 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
83°F
Clearfield, PA
183 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
6 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
6h 54m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
$10
near mile 12.6
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
Park Closure: Dingmans Falls Trail, Road, and Access Closed for Bridge Replacement
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features an 18% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway covers 287.2 miles, providing a significant period of consistent driving before transitioning. Expect to encounter more local traffic and varied speed limits as you move between towns on Bangor Mountain Road and other surface sections.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 287.2 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 4.5 miles in near PA 191 / Valley View Drive.
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 365.9 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 4.5 miles (PA 191 / Valley View Drive): Navigation decision point; at 9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles (I 80; US 209 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 54m. Total distance: 365.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 54m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 287.2 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 4.5 miles (PA 191 / Valley View Drive): Navigation decision point; at 9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles (I 80; US 209 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 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.
