Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 20m
Distance
365.5 mi
588 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
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
Gold Key Lake, PA
Nikolett Emmert
Erie to Gold Key Lake is 365.5 miles and takes about 7h 20m via Southern Tier Expressway, I 81, and I 84, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused journey primarily stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Pennsylvania. With a 94% highway share, expect a straightforward drive largely on major interstates. This route is best suited for those prioritizing efficient travel over a leisurely, scenic exploration, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip.
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
182.8 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 249.5 mi | 4h 50m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 84 | 34.1 mi | 39m |
| Hopkins-Bowser Highway | 7 mi | 8m |
| PA-739 | 6.7 mi | 12m |
| Bayfront Connector | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| AMVETS Memorial Highway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Log Tavern Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Gold Key Lake, PA.
Start on State Street
Turn left onto East 8th Street
Turn right onto East Bayfront Parkway
Continue on PA 290
Continue on PA 290; PA 430
Take the exit
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on I 86
Continue on I 86; NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 739
Turn left onto Log Tavern Road
Turn left onto Gold Key Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 7-hour 20-minute duration, starting early is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only 2 planned stops, it’s wise to be mindful of your fuel levels, especially considering the $61 estimated fuel cost. The longest stretch without a major change is 249.5 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway mark of that segment. Consider breaking up the drive if you prefer a more relaxed pace, though it's certainly manageable as a single-day 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.8 miles or 3h 39m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gold Key Lake, 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 365.5 miles and 7h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 182.8 miles from Erie, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 249.5 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 11.3 and 356.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 86 East: Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84 toward I 84 East: Milford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward PA 739: Lords Valley , Dingmans Ferry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$60.60 one way
$121.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $66.37 | $132.73 |
| premium | $4.93 | $70.88 | $141.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.70 | $161.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.38 | $17.54 |
| Efficient EV | 91.4 | 1 | $31.98 | $14.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.2 | 1 | $51.17 | $23.39 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Erie on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Gold Key Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major interstates like the Southern Tier Expressway, I 81, and I 84. You'll encounter a 249.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, indicating a significant portion of uninterrupted highway travel. The character of the drive is predominantly fast-paced, designed for covering distance efficiently. While the majority is interstate, be prepared for the natural transitions between these major arteries as you progress through Pennsylvania.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 365.5 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 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 268.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Gold Key Lake, PA, road signs point toward Mt Pocono and Milford.
Mt Pocono
Milford
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 20m. Total distance: 365.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Erie, PA or browse trips ending in Gold Key Lake, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
