This 216.4-mile drive from Erie to Howard, Pennsylvania, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 59 minutes. You'll be navigating primarily on the Keystone Shortway, with segments of Raymond P. Shafer Highway and Eagle Valley Road mixed in. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $36. Given its manageable duration, it's a perfect candidate for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The route offers a local feel, making it a straightforward journey within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania.
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
108.2 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
137.9 mi
2h 27m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
Eagle Valley Road
7.4 mi
10m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Walnut Street
0.9 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
West Bayfront Parkway
0.2 mi
<1m
Greengarden Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 137.9 mi, about 2h 27m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,047 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,313
Quietest
2 AM
~181 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
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 Howard, 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
138 mi·2 hr 27 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward PA 150 , US 220 Alt. south: Milesburg, Blanchard
9
Turn left onto PA 150
7.4 mi·10 min·Eagle Valley Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Turn right onto PA 26
0.9 mi·1 min·Walnut Street
11
Arrive at destination
PA 26
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under four hours, this 216.4-mile trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can leave anytime that suits your schedule, but consider an early start to maximize your daylight hours. While the drive is relatively short, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch is 137.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you embark on that segment. The $36 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra for unforeseen circumstances.
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 108.2 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.9 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 48 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Howard, 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 216.4 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 137.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 207.8 — 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
4
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Clarion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
5
207.8 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward PA 150 , US 220 Alt. south: Milesburg, Blanchard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 150 , US 220 Alt. south: Milesburg, B...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.27 one way
$76.54 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$41.92
$83.83
premium
$5.24
$44.68
$89.35
diesel
$5.35
$45.58
$91.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.9
0
$22.72
$10.39
Efficient EV
54.1
0
$18.94
$8.66
EV Truck/SUV
86.6
1
$30.30
$13.85
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Evening
in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
7:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Howard, PA
Evening
in Howard on Wednesday
Local time
7:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Sunny
N 3 mph5% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Ford City, PA
108 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
17 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
3h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than an interstate cruise, as this route has a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 137.9 miles along the Keystone Shortway. This suggests a journey that will involve frequent changes in direction and potentially slower speeds as you transition between different local roads like Raymond P. Shafer Highway and Eagle Valley Road. The road's personality is more about engaging with the local terrain and communities than covering long distances at high speed.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.9 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 8 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.
The longest stretch is about 137.9 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Howard, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
