Spanning 291 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Erie to Jackson takes approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes of active driving time. Because the route relies on local roads like West 12th Street and Greengarden Boulevard rather than high-speed interstates, it is best approached as a full, single-day endeavor. Budgeting roughly $48 for fuel will cover your transit across this Northeast corridor. While the drive is manageable in one go, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert behind the wheel. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two Pennsylvania points, though you should expect a slower pace than a typical highway cruise.
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
145.5 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
195.6 mi
3h 30m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
Broadway Road
6.7 mi
11m
Washingtonville Road
5.9 mi
10m
Rohrsburg Road
4.7 mi
8m
Eagle Road
4.5 mi
10m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Jerseytown Road
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 195.6 mi, about 3h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Jackson, 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
196 mi·3 hr 30 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward PA 254
9
Turn straight
209 ft·5 sec
10
Turn left onto PA 254
6.7 mi·11 min·Broadway Road
11
Continue on PA 254
5.9 mi·10 min·Washingtonville Road
12
Continue on PA 254
1.8 mi·3 min·Jerseytown Road
13
Continue on PA 254
1.7 mi·3 min·Rohrsburg Road
14
Continue on PA 254
0.9 mi·1 min·East Main Street
15
Continue on PA 254
3.0 mi·5 min·Rohrsburg Road
16
Turn left onto Eagle Road
4.5 mi·10 min·Eagle Road
17
Turn straight onto Austin Trail
100 ft·2 sec·Austin Trail
18
Turn slight right onto Derrs Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Derrs Road
19
Arrive at destination
Derrs Road
Trip Plan
To keep your 5-hour and 38-minute trip manageable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the monotony of the winding local roads. Since this is a turn-heavy route, departing early in the morning allows you to navigate the more complex local sections during peak daylight hours. With fuel costs estimated at $48, ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Erie, as local routes may offer fewer high-speed refueling options than major interstates. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on a trip like this; don't hesitate to pull over if the constant turning becomes fatiguing. Keep a close eye on your GPS, as the reliance on local streets like Greengarden Boulevard means you will need to watch for frequent turns.
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 145.5 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.6 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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.5 miles or 2h 40m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, 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 291 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 195.6 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 265.6 — 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
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
4
265.6 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward PA 254
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PA 254
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.24 one way
$96.49 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$52.84
$105.68
premium
$4.93
$56.44
$112.87
diesel
$5.61
$64.25
$128.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.3
1
$30.55
$13.97
Efficient EV
72.8
0
$25.46
$11.64
EV Truck/SUV
116.4
1
$40.74
$18.62
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jackson, PA
Morning
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
23 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
5h 38m 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?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route features zero highway miles, focusing instead on local infrastructure like the West Bayfront Parkway. The personality of this trip is defined by its turn-heavy profile, which demands your full attention compared to a mindless interstate drone. Because you are navigating local roads for the entirety of the 291-mile journey, you will find few long, uninterrupted stretches of road. Constant adjustments are the norm here, making the drive feel more like a navigation challenge than a cruise. You will spend your time winding through local corridors, so prepare for a drive that requires consistent engagement from the driver.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195.6 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 5h 38m 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 195.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jackson, PA before the return drive.
