Erie to King is 208.7 miles and takes about 4 hours 18 minutes via US 422, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience, with a significant portion on highways but also some time on more traditional roads. With a recommended one-day trip, this route is ideal for a straightforward journey between these two points in PA.
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
104.3 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 422
88.7 mi
2h
Raymond P Shafer Highway
84.1 mi
1h 30m
William Penn Highway
16.4 mi
19m
I 99
12.4 mi
13m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
William Penn Road
0.7 mi
1m
West High Street
0.7 mi
1m
Rowena Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 422
— 88.7 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and King, 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
84 mi·1 hr 30 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 99Toward US 422: Butler, New CastleUse the right lane.
7
Turn right onto US 422
38 mi·51 min·US 422
8
Take the exit onto US 422
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 422
Toward US 422 East, US 422 Business West: Indiana
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 422
51 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 422
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on West High Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West High Street
11
Turn slight right onto Rowena Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Rowena Drive
12
Merge onto Admiral Peary Highway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Admiral Peary Highway
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
13
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 22 East: HollidaysburgUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
15
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
17
Merge onto I 99; US 220
12 mi·13 min·I 99; US 220
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward Claysburg, King
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Claysburg, King
20
Continue on SR 3013
0.4 mi·37 sec·Dunnings Highway
21
Continue on William Penn Road
0.7 mi·1 min·William Penn Road
22
Turn left onto Hickory Lane
213 ft·9 sec·Hickory Lane
23
Arrive at destination
Hickory Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 18-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is advisable to allow ample time. You'll want to make at least one stop to break up the 208.7 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before the longest stretch of 88.7 miles on US 422, as services might be less frequent in certain areas. The $35 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to budget a little extra for unexpected price fluctuations or if you plan on detours.
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 104.3 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.7 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 46 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near King, 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 208.7 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 US 422 for about 88.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 207.4 — 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.
8
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 422: Butler, New Castle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 99
Toward US 422: Butler, New Castle
7
177.1 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Turn left toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
7
207.4 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Claysburg, King
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Claysburg, King
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.60 one way
$69.20 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$37.89
$75.79
premium
$4.93
$40.47
$80.95
diesel
$5.61
$46.08
$92.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.91
$10.02
Efficient EV
52.2
0
$18.26
$8.35
EV Truck/SUV
83.5
1
$29.22
$13.36
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 mph96% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 1:29PM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 1:02PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
King, PA
Late night
in King on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 to 14 mph95% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 1:29PM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 1:02PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
24 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
4h 18m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 179.9
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 208.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 48% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter the substantial Raymond P Shafer Highway and William Penn Highway as part of your travels. The longest stretch without a break from the main road is 88.7 miles on US 422, so plan accordingly. The character of the drive shifts, moving from potentially faster highway segments to more varied road conditions as you progress towards King.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.7 mi on US 422.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 208.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Erie, PA and King, PA, road signs point toward New Castle and Bedford.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 208.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.7 miles on US 422. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at King, 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. 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 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at King, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
