Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 11m
Distance
330.5 mi
532 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
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
Hudson, PA
Garrison Gao
Erie to Hudson is 330.5 miles and takes about 6h 11m via Keystone Shortway, Raymond P Shafer Highway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a driving experience that involves a good number of turns, so plan for a more engaged drive rather than a straight shot. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is best suited for those who enjoy a varied road experience and want to get from point A to point B without needing an overnight stay.
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
165.2 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
| 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 |
| Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| West 12th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Scott Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Mayock Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Spring Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Hudson, PA.
Start on State Street
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
Continue on I 79
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Continue on PA 309
Turn straight onto PA 309 BUS
Continue on PA 309 BUS
Continue on PA 309 BUS
Continue on PA 309 BUS
Continue on Scott Street
Turn left onto Laird Street
Continue on Mayock Street
Continue on South Oak Street
Turn right onto Stark Street
Arrive at destination
Given this is a single-day drive of 6h 11m, starting earlier in the morning is advisable to allow for flexibility and avoid arriving too late. The route features 1 recommended stop, so plan to utilize that to break up the 330.5 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $55, and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you might consume fuel slightly differently than on a steady interstate. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for the Keystone Shortway, as it can sometimes feel like a series of connected local roads rather than a continuous highway.
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 73 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.2 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hudson, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 330.5 miles and 6h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 165.2 miles from Erie, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 240.3 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 0.4 and 324.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
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
Regular Gas
$54.79 one way
$109.59 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $60.01 | $120.02 |
| premium | $4.93 | $64.10 | $128.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.97 | $145.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.1 | 1 | $34.70 | $15.86 |
| Efficient EV | 82.6 | 0 | $28.92 | $13.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.2 | 1 | $46.27 | $21.15 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Hudson on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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.
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll encounter frequent changes in direction rather than long, straight highway stretches. While it utilizes major roads like the Keystone Shortway and I 81, its profile indicates a significant portion involves navigating local roads and curves. You'll cover 330.5 miles, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 240.3 miles along the Keystone Shortway. The highway share is around 40%, meaning a substantial part of your journey will be on roads with more twists and turns, requiring your attention throughout the 6h 11m estimated travel time.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 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.
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 330.5 miles you will encounter 10 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.
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 6h 11m. Total distance: 330.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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