Spanning 189.6 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip from Erie to Newtown is a manageable journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 48 minutes. It functions perfectly as a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $31 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly way to cross the state. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region, you will remain in consistent territory throughout your travels. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, the straightforward nature of this route makes it a reliable choice for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.8 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Raymond P Shafer Highway
111.8 mi
2h 1m
I 79
61.1 mi
1h 16m
Bobtown Road
5.1 mi
9m
Garards Fort Road
3.7 mi
6m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
3 mi
4m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Kirby Road
1.6 mi
3m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Raymond P Shafer Highway
— 111.8 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Newtown, 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
112 mi·2 hr 1 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79
34 mi·46 min·I 79
Toward WashingtonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 79
0.5 mi·1 min·I 79
Toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, MorgantownUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 70; I 79
3.0 mi·4 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit onto I 79
27 mi·29 min·I 79
Exit 21Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, MorgantownUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 7Toward Garards Fort, KirbyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Kirby Road
187 ft·4 sec·Kirby Road
12
Continue on Kirby Fort Road
0.1 mi·12 sec·Kirby Fort Road
13
Continue on Kirby Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Kirby Road
14
Turn sharp right onto Garards Fort Road
3.7 mi·6 min·Garards Fort Road
15
Turn right onto Bobtown Road
5.1 mi·9 min·Bobtown Road
16
Turn right onto Budapest Road
0.2 mi·45 sec·Budapest Road
17
Continue on Budapest Road
67 ft·2 sec·Budapest Road
18
Arrive at destination
Budapest Road
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple given the sub-four-hour duration, though aiming for off-peak hours can help you maintain a consistent pace. With only one recommended stop planned, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs or refuel whenever you feel the need. Keep in mind that the majority of your time is spent on the 111.8-mile stretch of the Raymond P. Shafer Highway, so ensure your vehicle is prepped for a long, uninterrupted push before you head out. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to complete it in one go without worrying about complex itineraries. Always double-check your fuel levels before hitting the longer highway sections to ensure you stay within your $31 budget.
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 94.8 miles from Erie, PA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.8 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 42 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.8 miles or 1h 46m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newtown, 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 189.6 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 Raymond P Shafer Highway for about 111.8 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 178.6 — 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.
7
114.5 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|I 79
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79 toward Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Washington
8
148.3 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|I 79
Keep slight left at fork onto I 79 toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, Morgantown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, Morg...
8
151.8 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 21
Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
8
178.6 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Take the exit toward Garards Fort, Kirby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward Garards Fort, Kirby
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.43 one way
$62.87 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$34.43
$68.85
premium
$4.93
$36.77
$73.54
diesel
$5.61
$41.86
$83.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.9
0
$19.91
$9.10
Efficient EV
47.4
0
$16.59
$7.58
EV Truck/SUV
75.8
0
$26.54
$12.13
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 16 to 20 mph94% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Newtown, PA
Late night
in Newtown on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
13 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
3h 48m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 189.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed-drive route offers a balance between high-speed transit and local navigation. You will spend about 32% of your time on highways, with your journey relying on a combination of the Raymond P. Shafer Highway, I-79, and Bobtown Road. The most significant portion of your trip involves a 111.8-mile stretch on the Raymond P. Shafer Highway, which serves as the primary backbone of the drive. Expect the character of the road to shift as you transition from the major interstate segments onto the more localized paths. The experience is best described as a practical, functional drive that gets you from point A to point B with steady progress.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.8 mi on Raymond P Shafer Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort6/10
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 189.6 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 114.5 miles (I 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles (I 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Erie, PA and Newtown, PA, road signs point toward Washington, Morgantown, Garards Fort and Kirby.
Newtown is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Surrounded by beautiful farmlands, this small town was also the location where the movie Signs was filmed in part. It is a cute town with plenty of places to visit, eat and see.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 189.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.8 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Newtown, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.5 miles (I 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles (I 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Necessity National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Newtown, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
