Valenza Restaurant
Near the start, short detour
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18147241222
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 55m
Distance
267.3 mi
430 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Lewisburg, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Connecting Erie to Lewisburg, this 267.3-mile journey takes you across Pennsylvania in approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a single, focused day trip. You should budget roughly $44 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast locations. Navigating through West 12th Street, Greengarden Boulevard, and the West Bayfront Parkway sets the stage for a drive that demands your full attention. While it is certainly manageable in one sitting, keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can make the nearly five-hour duration feel more active than a standard highway cruise.
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
133.6 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 190.4 mi | 3h 24m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| Westbranch Highway | 5 mi | 7m |
| West 12th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| River Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Water Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Lewisburg, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 15
Turn left onto River Road
Continue on Saint Anthony Street
Turn left onto North Water Street
Turn right onto PA 45
Arrive at destination
Given the turn-heavy profile of this 4 hour and 55 minute drive, starting your journey early in the morning is your best strategy for maintaining focus. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the constant steering required by local roads can be more fatiguing than highway driving. Keep your $44 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before you leave Erie to avoid any stress during the middle of the trip. Since the route lacks high-speed segments, be mindful of changing speed limits as you transition between local boulevards and connecting routes. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so use your single planned stop to adjust your pace based on local traffic conditions.
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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.6 miles or 2h 27m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewisburg, 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 267.3 miles and 4h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 133.6 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 190.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18147241222
Farm Table Restaurant
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Near the start, short detour
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18147241222
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+18142054405
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~10 min detour
Hadley, Pennsylvania
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+17242532208
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Brookville, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
DuBois, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Falls Creek, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Brookville, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Erie, Pennsylvania
Hours: Closed
+18144347376
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 266 — 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
Take the exit toward US 15: Williamsport, Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 15 South: Lewisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$44.31 one way
$88.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $48.53 | $97.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $51.84 | $103.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.02 | $118.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.2 | 0 | $28.07 | $12.83 |
| Efficient EV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.39 | $10.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.9 | 1 | $37.42 | $17.11 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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
Morning in Erie on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Lewisburg on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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 technical and hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this route features a 0% highway share. Instead of the monotony of cruise control, you will navigate a turn-heavy local drive that requires constant engagement. The path winds through the Pennsylvania landscape, trading high-speed lanes for a more intimate, road-level perspective of the region. Because there is no long-haul interstate travel, you will find the experience is defined by the transitions between local streets and connecting corridors. Prepare for a steady, rhythmic pace that prioritizes local connectivity over the efficiency of major thoroughfares.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 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 267.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 260.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 55m. Total distance: 267.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m 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.
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