Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 38m
Distance
411.9 mi
663 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bryn Mawr, PA
Michael Taccetta
Erie to Bryn Mawr is 411.9 miles and takes about 7h 38m via Keystone Shortway, Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, and Raymond P Shafer Highway, with a fuel budget near $68 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, taking you from the Northeast region to the same. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and local road segments, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Given the duration and the nature of the roads, it's a solid choice for a single-day trip if you're comfortable with a bit of navigation.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
206 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 257.1 mi | 4h 38m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 75.1 mi | 1h 21m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| West Montgomery Avenue | 3.6 mi | 8m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| West 12th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Matsonford Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Bryn Mawr, PA.
Start on State Street
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
Continue on I 79
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476; PATP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto Matsonford Road
Turn left onto PA 320
Turn sharp left onto New Gulph Road
Turn right onto Avon Road
Turn right
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7h 38m drive, consider departing early in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight for the 411.9-mile journey. With two recommended stops, you can break up the drive effectively. The $68 fuel estimate should be a good baseline, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the local road segments. A helpful tip for this route: familiarize yourself with your GPS or maps beforehand, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making more frequent directional changes than on a pure interstate trip.
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.
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 91 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 206 miles or 3h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bryn Mawr, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Erie, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 411.9 miles and 7h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
206 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 206 miles from Erie, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 257.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 407.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Conshohocken
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$68.29 one way
$136.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $74.79 | $149.58 |
| premium | $4.93 | $79.88 | $159.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $90.94 | $181.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.76
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
$68
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 144.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 123.6 | 1 | $43.25 | $19.77 |
| Efficient EV | 103 | 1 | $36.04 | $16.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 164.8 | 2 | $57.67 | $26.36 |
Gas CO2
144 kg
EV CO2
48 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Erie on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Bryn Mawr on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
57°F
Wellsville, NY
206 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only 19% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of road types, so be prepared for varying speeds and navigation. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 257.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a significant period of consistent driving before transitioning. The remainder of the trip will involve more localized roads, requiring your attention for turns and changes in scenery.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 411.9 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 0.4 miles (PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 403.1 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 406.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Erie, PA and Bryn Mawr, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Allentown.
Patp
Allentown
Erie is a city of about 100,000 in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's only lake port on the Great Lakes (Lake Erie).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 38m. Total distance: 411.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 38m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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