Erie to Kittanning is 123.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 29 minutes via Raymond P Shafer Highway and US 422, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Pennsylvania, starting in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. Expect a local drive with frequent turns, so it's not a route for setting speed records. It's a straightforward journey that’s easy to plan for, especially if you want to keep your travel time manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.9 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Raymond P Shafer Highway
84.1 mi
1h 30m
US 422
33.5 mi
45m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Butler Road
1.2 mi
1m
Franklin Hill Road
0.7 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
North Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Kittanning Citizens Bridge
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Raymond P Shafer Highway
— 84.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Kittanning, 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
34 mi·45 min·US 422
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
9
Keep slight left at fork
204 ft·7 sec
10
Continue on PA 268; US 422 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Franklin Hill Road
11
Continue on US 422 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Butler Road
12
Continue on US 422 Business
0.2 mi·16 sec·Kittanning Citizens Bridge
13
Continue on Market Street
518 ft·22 sec·Market Street
14
Turn left onto North Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·North Jefferson Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 29 minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is ideal, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential for spontaneous stops. With only 123.7 miles, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $21, and while there are no designated stops in the data, local services will be available along US 422. The frequent turns mean paying close attention to navigation, especially as you transition between Raymond P Shafer Highway and US 422.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.9 miles from Erie, PA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.1 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.9 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kittanning, 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 123.7 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Erie, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Raymond P Shafer Highway for about 84.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 123.5 — 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
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
5
123.5 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|North Jefferson Street
Turn left onto North Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.51 one way
$41.02 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.46
$44.92
premium
$4.93
$23.99
$47.98
diesel
$5.61
$27.31
$54.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
Efficient EV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
EV Truck/SUV
49.5
0
$17.32
$7.92
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Afternoon
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kittanning, PA
Afternoon
in Kittanning on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
6 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
2h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive has a turn-heavy local feel, with only 27% of the trip on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 84.1 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel. After that, be prepared for a change in pace as you navigate more local roads and intersections. The character of the route shifts from potentially open highway to more involved driving as you get closer to your destination.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.1 mi on Raymond P Shafer Highway.
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 2h 29m drive. You will face about 7 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Erie, PA to Kittanning, PA, road signs begin pointing toward New Castle along the way.
The longest stretch is about 84.1 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kittanning, PA before heading back.
