Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
244.3 mi
393 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
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
Jersey Shore, PA
Maydonshoots
This 244.3-mile drive from Erie to Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, is a solid 4-hour and 32-minute journey, making it a feasible day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Keystone Shortway, Raymond P. Shafer Highway, and Appalachian Thruway, with no interstate driving involved. Budget around $41 for fuel, and plan for at least one stop along the way. This route offers a more local feel as you traverse through Pennsylvania's Northeast region. It’s a straightforward trip that doesn't require 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
122.2 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 153.3 mi | 2h 44m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| Appalachian Thruway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Frank D O'Reilly Jr Highway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Nittany Valley Drive | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| West 12th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Allegheny Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Jersey Shore, 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
Turn left onto PA 64
Turn right onto PA 477
Take the ramp
Turn sharp left onto US 220
Continue on US 220
Continue on US 220
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto Thomas Street
Continue on Bridge Street
Turn left onto Allegheny Street
Turn right onto Mount Pleasant Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour, 32-minute duration, departing in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Jersey Shore comfortably within a single day. Since this route involves local roads and is turn-heavy, keep an eye on your navigation and be mindful of your fuel level, especially during the longest 153.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. While the total fuel cost is estimated at $41, it's always wise to fill up before starting or at your planned stop to avoid any issues. This drive is manageable without an overnight, so enjoy the flexibility of setting your own pace.
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.
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 54 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.2 miles or 2h 15m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jersey Shore, 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 244.3 miles and 4h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 122.2 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 153.3 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 228.4 — 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 PA 64: Pleasant Gap, Mill Hall
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto US 220 / Frank D O'Reilly Jr Highway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$40.50 one way
$81.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $44.36 | $88.72 |
| premium | $4.93 | $47.38 | $94.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.94 | $107.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.60
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.65 | $11.73 |
| Efficient EV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.38 | $9.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.7 | 1 | $34.20 | $15.64 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Jersey Shore on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 153.3 miles along the Keystone Shortway. This suggests a journey that prioritizes local roads over high-speed travel, offering a more intimate experience of the Pennsylvania landscape. Be prepared for a more engaging driving experience that requires constant attention as you navigate various road types and turns.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 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 244.3 miles you will encounter 14 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Erie, PA to Jersey Shore, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mill Hall along the way.
Mill Hall
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 4h 32m. Total distance: 244.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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 Jersey Shore, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
