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
.
Main Roads
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
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 190.4 mi, about 3h 24m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,074 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,411
Quietest
2 AM
~183 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 Lewisburg, 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
190 mi·3 hr 24 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 210A-BToward US 15: Williamsport, Lewisburg
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 210AToward US 15 South: Lewisburg
10
Merge onto US 15
5.0 mi·7 min·Westbranch Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto River Road
0.8 mi·1 min·River Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on Saint Anthony Street
487 ft·21 sec·Saint Anthony Street
13
Turn left onto North Water Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Water Street
14
Turn right onto PA 45
0.2 mi·19 sec·Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
PA 45
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.6 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 190.4 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 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.
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 267.3 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 190.4 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 11
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.
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
260.3 mi into trip|~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward US 15: Williamsport, Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A-B
Toward US 15: Williamsport, Lewisburg
6
260.6 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 15 South: Lewisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 210A
Toward US 15 South: Lewisburg
6
266 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|River Road
Turn left onto River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.27 one way
$94.54 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$51.78
$103.55
premium
$5.24
$55.19
$110.37
diesel
$5.35
$56.30
$112.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
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, 2026-06-01.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 31, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Evening
in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
W 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lewisburg, PA
Evening
in Lewisburg on Wednesday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
NW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Clearfield, PA
134 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
9 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
4h 55m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
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.
Only 0% 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: 190.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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.
Driving Effort5/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,739 ft470 ft
Total Climb
2,051 ft
Total Descent
2,234 ft
Highest Point
1,739 ft
~190.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,270 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Ember + Forge
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.2 mi from route
Erie, PA
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-19:00; Su 08...
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 190.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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.
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 260.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Lewisburg, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
