Erie to Lehigh is 361.9 miles and takes about 6h 46m via Keystone Shortway and I 380, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that's primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel rather than a high-speed interstate run. With a recommended one-day drive and a manageable duration, this route is a straightforward option for getting across the state.
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
180.9 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
273.6 mi
4h 57m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
I 380
12 mi
13m
PA 507
2.9 mi
5m
Lehigh Road
2.1 mi
8m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
West Bayfront Parkway
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 273.6 mi, about 4h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,084 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,463
Quietest
2 AM
~184 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Lehigh, 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
274 mi·4 hr 57 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 293Toward I 380 North, PA 940 Truck East: Scranton
9
Continue on I 380
12 mi·13 min·I 380
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward 435, 507: Gouldsboro
11
Turn right onto PA 507
2.9 mi·5 min·PA 507
12
Turn left onto Lehigh Road
2.1 mi·8 min·Lehigh Road
13
Turn straight
60 ft·4 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 46m drive, consider leaving early in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since this is a single-day trip, you can be flexible with your timing for stops. The route has one designated stop, but you'll find other opportunities along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer 273.6-mile section on the Keystone Shortway, as fuel availability might be less frequent on surface roads.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.9 miles from Erie, PA, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 273.6 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.9 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lehigh, 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 361.9 miles and 6h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 273.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 356.5 — 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
6
343.6 mi into trip|~6h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 380 North, PA 940 Truck East: Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North, PA 940 Truck East: Scranton
5
356.5 mi into trip|~6h 32m in
Take the exit toward 435, 507: Gouldsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 435, 507: Gouldsboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.70 one way
$115.41 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$63.86
$127.72
premium
$4.81
$68.50
$137.01
diesel
$4.80
$68.33
$136.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.6
1
$38.00
$17.37
Efficient EV
90.5
1
$31.67
$14.48
EV Truck/SUV
144.8
1
$50.67
$23.16
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
E 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lehigh, PA
Late night
in Lehigh on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
11 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
6h 46m 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.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$10
near mile 349.4
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
Park Closure: Dingmans Falls Trail, Road, and Access Closed for Bridge Replacement
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only about 25% of the 361.9 miles on highways like the Raymond P Shafer Highway and I 380. You'll spend the majority of your time on local roads, with the longest continuous stretch on the Keystone Shortway covering 273.6 miles. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits as you transition between towns and rural areas.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 273.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 46m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 46m. Total distance: 361.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 46m 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 273.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 40 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lehigh, 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. There are 40 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lehigh, PA before the return drive.
