Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Erie, PA to Middletown, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 3m
Distance
363.1 mi
584 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 52m
★
6 AM
7h 4m
8 AM
7h 26m
10 AM
7h 11m
12 PM
7h 9m
3 PM
7h 12m
5 PM
7h 25m
8 PM
6h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Middletown, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
Erie to Middletown is 363.1 miles and takes about 7h 3m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, starting in the Northeast region and ending in the same state. Expect a driving experience that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads, rather than a simple interstate cruise. With a recommended one-day drive time and a reasonable fuel cost, this route is a manageable journey for those looking to cover ground within 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
181.6 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 236.3 mi | 4h 14m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| PA 248 | 20.2 mi | 30m |
| Hudson Drive | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| West Broad Street | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| State Route 93 | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Newburg Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Hunter Street | 2.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 236.3 mi, about 4h 14m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical · worst 1,466
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Middletown, 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
236 mi
·
4 hr 14 min
·
Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward PA 93: Conyngham, Nescopeck
9
Keep slight right at fork
444 ft
·
11 sec
10
Turn straight onto PA 93
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Berwick Hazleton Highway
11
Continue on PA 93
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 93
12
Continue on PA 93
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Valmont Parkway
13
Continue on PA 93
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Susquehanna Boulevard
14
Continue on PA 93
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Broad Street
15
Continue on PA 93; PA 924
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Broad Street
16
Continue on PA 93
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Berwick Street
17
Continue on PA 93
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Broad Street
18
Continue on PA 93
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Hudson Drive
19
Continue on State Route 93
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Hunter Street
20
Continue on PA 93
523 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hudson Drive
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 209
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Catawissa Street
22
Continue on US 209
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Lehigh Avenue
23
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Lehigh Street
24
Turn left onto US 209
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Susquehanna Street
25
Continue on US 209
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Mauch Chunk Street
26
Continue on US 209
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North 1st Street
27
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North First Street
28
Continue on US 209
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bankway Street
29
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto PA 248
20 mi
·
30 min
·
PA 248
Use the right lane.
31
Continue on Newburg Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Newburg Road
32
Turn right onto PA 191
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Nazareth Pike
33
Turn slight left onto Butztown Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Butztown Road
34
Continue on Hecktown Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Hecktown Road
35
Turn slight right onto Easton Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Easton Avenue
36
Turn left onto Willow Park Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Park Road
37
Arrive at destination
Willow Park Road
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour drive time, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to ensure you have ample daylight for the journey. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 363.1 miles effectively. Consider using your longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway for a longer driving segment before or after a planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning from highway sections to local roads, as fuel availability can be more sporadic in rural areas. The $60 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline for planning.
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 181.6 miles from Erie, PA, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.3 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 181.6 miles or 3h 19m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middletown, 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 363.1 miles and 7h 3m.
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 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 236.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
182 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 181.6 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 236.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Centre County Rest Area Eastbound
0 mi from route
Montour County Rest Area Eastbound
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Venango County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Centre County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Venango County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Zachrich Trucking Inc
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Clarion Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 306.5 — 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
5
306.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 33m in
Take the exit toward PA 93: Conyngham, Nescopeck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 93: Conyngham, Nescopeck
5
306.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.21 one way
$128.43 round trip
$4.49/gal
25.4 MPG avg
127 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $70.33 | $140.67 |
| premium | $5.24 | $74.96 | $149.93 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $76.48 | $152.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 108.9 | 1 | $38.13 | $17.43 |
| Efficient EV | 90.8 | 1 | $31.77 | $14.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 145.2 | 1 | $50.83 | $23.24 |
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.
Origin
Erie, PA
Afternoon in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
4:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
NE 13 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Middletown, PA
Afternoon in Middletown on Wednesday
Local time
4:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny
N 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live 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
8 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 3m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with only a 7% highway share. The majority of your time will be spent on local roads, which means you'll experience a more varied landscape and potentially slower speeds. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 236.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a more consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and road type as you make your way across the state.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.3 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 Effort
4/10
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 7h 3m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,793 ft
269 ft
Total Climb
3,054 ft
Total Descent
3,438 ft
Highest Point
1,793 ft
~155.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,524 ft
Notable High Points
1,527 ft at ~233.4 miles
+714 ft prominence
1,552 ft at ~311.2 miles
+1,024 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Erie, PA to Middletown, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Nescopeck along the way.
Nescopeck
306.3 mi in
|
~5h 33m
About the Cities
Starting in Erie, PA
Full guide →Founded 1795
Erie is a city of about 100,000 in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's only lake port on the Great Lakes (Lake Erie).
Top landmarks
- • USS Niagara — 2000 restoration/replica wooden-hulled 1813 snow-brig
- • Erie Land Light — lighthouse in Pennsylvania, United States
- • Boston Store — former department store, founded in Erie, Pennsylvania
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 3m. Total distance: 363.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 34 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 Middletown, 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. There are 34 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Middletown, PA before the return drive.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Middletown, PA
Explore more options from Erie, PA or browse trips ending in Middletown, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.