Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 15m
Distance
374.3 mi
602 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Limerick, PA
Wikimedia Commons
This 374.3-mile journey from Erie to Limerick, Pennsylvania, will take approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway, Raymond P Shafer Highway, and State Route 54, this route offers a local driving experience with frequent turns. With a projected fuel cost of around $62 and two recommended stops, it’s definitely manageable as a single-day trip, though you could break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region.
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
187.2 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 25m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 204.4 mi | 3h 39m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| State Route 54 | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| Center Avenue | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Pottsville Pike | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Elysburg Road | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Pottstown Bypass | 8.5 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Limerick, 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
Turn slight left
Turn right onto PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Turn left onto PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Turn right onto PA 901
Turn right onto PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Turn left onto PA 183
Turn right onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Keep slight right at fork onto US 222 BUS
Continue on US 222 Business
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 422
Continue on US 422
Continue on US 422
Continue on US 422
Take the exit onto US 422
Take the exit
Turn right onto Evergreen Road
Continue on this road
Turn straight onto West Ridge Pike
Turn right onto South Limerick Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 7-hour 15-minute drive time, an early morning departure from Erie is recommended to make the most of daylight for this turn-heavy route. Plan for your two stops strategically to break up the 204.4-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to State Route 54, and budget approximately $62 for gas. Being a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but staying aware of local road conditions will be key to a smooth journey.
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.
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 82 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 187.2 miles or 3h 25m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Limerick, 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.
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 374.3 miles and 7h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
187 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 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 187.2 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 204.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 371.1 — 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 ramp toward US 422 East: Pottstown, Morgantown
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 422 / Pottstown Bypass toward US 422 East: Pottstown, King of Prussia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Evergreen Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$62.05 one way
$124.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $67.96 | $135.93 |
| premium | $4.93 | $72.59 | $145.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $82.64 | $165.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112.3 | 1 | $39.30 | $17.97 |
| Efficient EV | 93.6 | 1 | $32.75 | $14.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.7 | 1 | $52.40 | $23.96 |
Gas CO2
131 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Limerick on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile on this route, with a highway share of only 30%. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 204.4 miles along the Keystone Shortway. This means you'll be navigating a variety of road types, transitioning between more open highway sections and more involved local roads as you progress through the state. It’s a drive that requires your attention, offering a dynamic feel behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 374.3 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 349.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Erie, PA and Limerick, PA, road signs point toward Washingtonville and Morgantown.
Washingtonville
Morgantown
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 7h 15m. Total distance: 374.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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