Erie to Hilldale is 332 miles and takes about 6h 13m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a route that features a good amount of local road driving interspersed with highway travel. Given the 6-hour duration and single recommended stop, it's a manageable day trip for most drivers. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward journey across the state without extensive planning.
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
166 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
240.3 mi
4h 19m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
I 81
13.6 mi
16m
North River Street
2.7 mi
5m
Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
2.2 mi
4m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Butler Street
0.5 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 240.3 mi, about 4h 19m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,466
Quietest
2 AM
~186 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 Erie, PA and Hilldale, 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
240 mi·4 hr 19 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
9
Merge onto I 81
14 mi·16 min·I 81
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain Top, Wilkes-Barre
11
Continue on PA 309
0.1 mi·12 sec·PA 309
12
Turn straight onto PA 309 BUS
2.2 mi·4 min·Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
13
Continue on PA 309 BUS
0.2 mi·35 sec·Spring Street
14
Turn left onto Pine Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·Pine Street
15
Turn left onto Scott Street
431 ft·16 sec·Scott Street
16
Turn right onto Pearl Street
233 ft·6 sec·Pearl Street
17
Turn slight left onto Butler Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Butler Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto North Main Street
303 ft·14 sec·North Main Street
19
Turn left onto Courtright Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Courtright Avenue
20
Turn right onto North River Street
2.7 mi·5 min·North River Street
21
Turn right onto Courtright Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·Courtright Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·North Main Street
23
Turn right onto Chamberlain Street
127 ft·5 sec·Chamberlain Street
24
Arrive at destination
Chamberlain Street
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Erie in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Hilldale, even with the 6h 13m estimated travel time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $55, you can be quite flexible with your pacing. The Keystone Shortway is your main artery for the longest stretch, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that 240.3-mile segment. Since this is a single-day trip, aim to leave early to avoid any potential rush hour delays in more populated areas as you approach your destination.
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 166 miles from Erie, PA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.3 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 73 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilldale, 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 332 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 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 240.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 324.6 — 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
310.3 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
5
324.6 mi into trip|~5h 56m in
Take the exit toward PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain Top, Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.71 one way
$117.43 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$64.31
$128.62
premium
$5.24
$68.54
$137.09
diesel
$5.35
$69.93
$139.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.6
1
$34.86
$15.94
Efficient EV
83
0
$29.05
$13.28
EV Truck/SUV
132.8
1
$46.48
$21.25
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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 May 21, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Evening
in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
8:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 10 to 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 21 at 5:00AM EDT until May 22 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Hilldale, PA
Evening
in Hilldale on Wednesday
Local time
8:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy
NE 3 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 21 at 5:00AM EDT until May 22 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
10 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 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is primarily a turn-heavy local drive, with highway sections making up about 40% of the total mileage. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Keystone Shortway, which offers the longest uninterrupted stretch at 240.3 miles. While there are interstate segments like I 81, the overall feel is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating a varied landscape. The road's personality shifts, transitioning between open highway and more constrained local road conditions, requiring your attention throughout the 6h 13m journey.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.3 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 17 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 332 miles you will encounter 17 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 332 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 38 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.
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 Hilldale, 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. There are 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hilldale, PA before the return drive.
