Erie, PA to East Washington, PA is 149.3 miles and takes about 2h 58m via Raymond P Shafer Highway and I-79, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region down into another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, with some interstate cruising mixed in. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.6 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Raymond P Shafer Highway
111.8 mi
2h 1m
I 79
31.1 mi
42m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Locust Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Oak Spring Road
0.6 mi
1m
North Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Murtland Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Raymond P Shafer Highway
— 111.8 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and East Washington, PA.
1
Start on State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
2
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.0 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
0.1 mi·23 sec·Greengarden Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
0.2 mi·20 sec·West Bayfront Parkway
5
Continue on I 79
112 mi·2 hr 1 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79
31 mi·42 min·I 79
Toward WashingtonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 40Toward Meadow LandsUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Locust Avenue
9
Turn left onto Oak Spring Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Oak Spring Road
10
Turn right onto US 19
0.2 mi·27 sec·Murtland Avenue
11
Turn left onto North Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto East Chestnut Street
34 ft·1 sec·East Chestnut Street
13
Arrive at destination
East Chestnut Street
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete the 149.3 miles. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make a quick break or push through relatively easily. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $25, and plan your fill-up accordingly, especially before you hit longer stretches on surface roads where stations might be less frequent. The transition from Raymond P Shafer Highway to I-79 is a key point to be aware of for your navigation.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.6 miles from Erie, PA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.8 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.6 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Washington, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 149.3 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Erie, 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 Raymond P Shafer Highway for about 111.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 145.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m 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 lane.
6
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|Greengarden Boulevard
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in|West Bayfront Parkway
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
Navigation decision point
7
114.5 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|I 79
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79 toward Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Washington
7
145.7 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward Meadow Lands
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40
Toward Meadow Lands
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.75 one way
$49.50 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$27.11
$54.22
premium
$4.93
$28.95
$57.91
diesel
$5.61
$32.96
$65.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
Efficient EV
37.3
0
$13.06
$5.97
EV Truck/SUV
59.7
0
$20.90
$9.56
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Afternoon
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Washington, PA
Afternoon
in East Washington on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live 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
13 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
2h 58m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 21%, meaning most of your travel will be on surface roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 111.8 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway before transitioning. Given the profile of mostly surface roads, anticipate frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you navigate through towns and built-up areas.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.8 mi on Raymond P Shafer Highway.
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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street.
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 149.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (Greengarden Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West Bayfront Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Erie, PA to East Washington, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 149.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.8 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (Greengarden Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West Bayfront Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Washington, PA before heading back.
