Spanning 415.7 miles across Pennsylvania, your journey from Erie to Lawrence Park takes approximately 7 hours and 41 minutes of driving time. Because this route requires a significant time commitment, it is best approached as a one-day trip, though you should be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. You will navigate via the Keystone Shortway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, and the Raymond P. Shafer Highway. Budgeting around $69 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the costs of this Northeast regional transit. While the total mileage is substantial, the direct nature of these major roads makes the trip straightforward for drivers comfortable with a full day of travel.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
207.8 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
257.1 mi
4h 38m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75.1 mi
1h 21m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
Mid-County Expressway
10.8 mi
14m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Lawrence Road
0.5 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
West Chester Pike
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 257.1 mi, about 4h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Lawrence Park, 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
257 mi·4 hr 38 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto PA 3
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Chester Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Lawrence Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Lawrence Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Sussex Boulevard
353 ft·13 sec·Sussex Boulevard
19
Turn right onto Hastings Boulevard
0.1 mi·28 sec·Hastings Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Cornwall Drive
0.2 mi·45 sec·Cornwall Drive
21
At end of road, turn left onto North Central Boulevard
213 ft·9 sec·North Central Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
North Central Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 7 hour and 41 minute duration, getting an early start is essential to ensure you arrive at your destination before dark. You should plan for at least two stops to break up the 415.7-mile trek, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be fatiguing over long periods. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 257.1-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as service intervals can vary significantly along that portion. Since this is a single-day trip, your flexibility is your greatest advantage, so do not hesitate to pull over if you need extra rest between your two planned stops. Staying hydrated and pacing your driving intervals will help you maintain focus through the more technical sections of the highway system.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 207.8 miles from Erie, PA, or about 3h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257.1 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 91 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 207.8 miles or 3h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence Park, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 415.7 miles and 7h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Erie, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 257.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 414.1 — 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.
6
328 mi into trip|~5h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
7
403.1 mi into trip|~7h 21m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
414.1 mi into trip|~7h 36m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.92 one way
$137.84 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg145 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$75.48
$150.96
premium
$4.93
$80.62
$161.24
diesel
$5.61
$91.78
$183.56
Estimated Tolls: $9.76
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75.1 mi)$9.76
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
$69
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 145.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
124.7
1
$43.65
$19.95
Efficient EV
103.9
1
$36.37
$16.63
EV Truck/SUV
166.3
2
$58.20
$26.60
Gas CO2
145 kg
EV CO2
49 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Night
in Erie on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Widespread Fog
SW 2 to 7 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lawrence Park, PA
Night
in Lawrence Park on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Cuba, NY
208 mi in
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
31 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 41m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 401.3
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$1
near mile 415.7
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 415.7
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 415.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances high-speed transit with more technical maneuvering. Only 21% of your journey involves highway driving, meaning you will spend the bulk of your time navigating varied local road conditions. You will face your longest uninterrupted stretch along the Keystone Shortway, which covers 257.1 miles of the trip. The transition between these different road types keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind, but it does require your full attention. Be prepared for the shift in road personality as you move from the open stretches of the main highways onto the more winding local segments.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 257.1 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 17 significant decision points across 415.7 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 328 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,767 ft264 ft
Total Climb
2,979 ft
Total Descent
3,368 ft
Highest Point
1,767 ft
~237.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,503 ft
Notable High Points
1,767 ft at ~237.5 miles+1,028 ft prominence
1,470 ft at ~326.6 miles+538 ft prominence
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 Lawrence Park, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Allentown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 41m. Total distance: 415.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 41m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 257.1 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.76 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Lawrence Park, 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 2 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 328 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lawrence Park, PA before the return drive.
