Erie to Faxon is 260.8 miles and takes about 4h 51m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive characterized by frequent turns, rather than straight highway cruising. With only one recommended stop and a duration under five hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey, making it a convenient option for a quick trip across the state.
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
130.4 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
153.3 mi
2h 44m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
Susquehanna Beltway
15.1 mi
18m
Appalachian Thruway
10.4 mi
11m
Frank D O'Reilly Jr Highway
5.7 mi
6m
Nittany Valley Drive
4.5 mi
7m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
South Northway Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 153.3 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Faxon, 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
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
7
Merge onto I 80
153 mi·2 hr 44 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward PA 64: Pleasant Gap, Mill Hall
9
Turn left onto PA 64
4.5 mi·7 min·Nittany Valley Drive
10
Turn right onto PA 477
345 ft·6 sec·Long Run Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·39 sec
12
Turn sharp left onto US 220
5.7 mi·6 min·Frank D O'Reilly Jr Highway
13
Continue on US 220
0.3 mi·17 sec·Appalachian Thwy
14
Continue on US 220
10 mi·11 min·Appalachian Thruway
15
Continue on US 220
15 mi·18 min·Susquehanna Beltway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 25Toward Faxon
17
Continue on South Northway Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Northway Road
18
Turn slight right
202 ft·14 sec
19
Turn sharp left onto East 3rd Street
125 ft·7 sec·East 3rd Street
20
Turn left onto South Northway Road
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Northway Road
21
Take the ramp
181 ft·4 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 51m estimated drive time and a total distance of 260.8 miles, leaving in the morning should allow ample time to reach Faxon before dark. While only one stop is suggested, consider planning for additional brief breaks as needed, especially since this is a turn-heavy route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local drives can sometimes have longer distances between services than major interstates. A good strategy might be to fill up before departing Erie, and then again at your planned stop, to ensure you have plenty of gas for the remainder of the journey to Faxon.
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 130.4 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.3 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 57 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.4 miles or 2h 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 3h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Faxon, 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 260.8 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 Keystone Shortway for about 153.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 130.4 miles from Erie, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 260.5 — 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
5
223.2 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward PA 64: Pleasant Gap, Mill Hall
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 64: Pleasant Gap, Mill Hall
6
260.5 mi into trip|~4h 51m in|East 3rd Street
Turn sharp left onto East 3rd Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.24 one way
$86.47 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$47.35
$94.71
premium
$4.93
$50.58
$101.16
diesel
$5.61
$57.58
$115.16
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Appalachian Thruway
(10.4 mi)$0.73
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
$43
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.2
0
$27.38
$12.52
Efficient EV
65.2
0
$22.82
$10.43
EV Truck/SUV
104.3
1
$36.51
$16.69
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Faxon, PA
Late night
in Faxon on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
14 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
4h 51m 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?
This route is described as a turn-heavy local drive, with no highway share, meaning you'll be navigating a variety of smaller roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 153.3 miles, primarily on the Keystone Shortway. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires consistent attention to navigation due to the numerous turns. The character of the road will likely shift as you progress, moving away from the more direct paths and into a more winding, local feel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 0.4 miles in near PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 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 Faxon, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mill Hall along the way.
The longest stretch is about 153.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.73 in tolls one way, starting with Appalachian Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Faxon, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
