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Trip from Erie, PA to Oakland, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

93.3 mi

150 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 48m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Erie, PA, PA

Erie, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Oakland, PA, PA

Oakland, PA

Robert So

Trip Overview

Erie to Oakland is 93.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 56 minutes via Raymond P Shafer Highway, Mercer-New Wilmington Road, and Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive with frequent turns, making it more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit. With only 5% of the route on highways, this is a journey best suited for those who enjoy navigating local roads and experiencing the landscape at a more leisurely pace. Consider this route if you prefer a direct, shorter drive without the need for an overnight stay, focusing on the journey itself.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

46.7 miles from Erie, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Raymond P Shafer Highway 66.3 mi 1h 11m
Mercer-New Wilmington Road 6.3 mi 8m
Keystone Shortway 3.7 mi 3m
Beaver Valley Expressway 3.7 mi 3m
South New Castle Street 2.4 mi 4m
West 12th Street 2 mi 4m
West State Street 1.4 mi 2m
Steingrabe Road 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Raymond P Shafer Highway — 66.3 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Oakland, 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

66 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 80 West: Sharon
7

Merge onto I 80

3.7 mi · 3 min · Keystone Shortway
Toward I 80 West: Sharon
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 15 Toward US 19: Mercer
9

Keep slight right at fork

240 ft · 7 sec
10

Turn straight onto US 19

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South Erie Street
11

Turn left onto Steingrabe Road

1.2 mi · 1 min · Steingrabe Road
Use the left lane.
12

Turn left onto PA 158

6.3 mi · 8 min · Mercer-New Wilmington Road
13

Continue on PA 158

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Market Street
14

Turn right onto Beechwood Road

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Beechwood Road
15

Turn left onto PA 158

2.4 mi · 4 min · South New Castle Street
16

At end of road, turn left onto PA 18

0.8 mi · 1 min · PA 18
17

Turn right onto Glen Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Glen Road
18

Turn right onto Mitchell Road

460 ft · 8 sec · Mitchell Road
19

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
20

Merge onto I 376

3.7 mi · 3 min · Beaver Valley Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 13 Toward US 224: State Street, Poland Use the slight right lane.
22

Keep slight left at fork

190 ft · 6 sec
23

Turn left onto US 224

1.4 mi · 2 min · West State Street
24

Turn right onto Miller Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · Miller Avenue
25

At end of road, turn left onto West Washington Street

186 ft · 7 sec · West Washington Street
26

Turn right onto Matilda Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Matilda Avenue
27

Turn right onto Fowler Lane

35 ft · 1 sec · Fowler Lane
28

Arrive at destination

Fowler Lane

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive of just under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to complete the 93.3-mile journey with ample daylight, avoiding any late-night navigation on the local roads. The $15 fuel budget is quite reasonable, but it's always wise to start with a full tank, especially given the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. Keep an eye out for the transitions between the main roads like Raymond P Shafer Highway and Mercer-New Wilmington Road, as these can be points where navigation requires more focus. There are no specific stops recommended, so feel free to pause when you see a point of interest or need a break.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.7 miles from Erie, PA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.3 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 21 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46.7 miles or 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Erie, PA

This is one driving day of about 93.3 miles and 1h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Erie, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Raymond P Shafer Highway for about 66.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Sandy Lake, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sandy Lake, PA

47 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

Edinboro, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cochranton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.7 miles from Erie, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Raymond P Shafer Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 90.5 — 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

6
73.8 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in | Steingrabe Road

Turn left onto Steingrabe Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
90.5 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the exit toward US 224: State Street, Poland

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 13 Toward US 224: State Street, Poland

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.47 one way

$30.94 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $16.94 $33.88
premium $4.93 $18.09 $36.19
diesel $5.61 $20.60 $41.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28 0 $9.80 $4.48
Efficient EV 23.3 0 $8.16 $3.73
EV Truck/SUV 37.3 0 $13.06 $5.97

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 16, 2026

Origin

Erie, PA

Late night in Erie on Sunday

Local time

12:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 to 15 mph 83% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA

Destination

Oakland, PA

Late night in Oakland on Sunday

Local time

12:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°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

10 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 56m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than cruising on a straight highway. Only 5% of the 93.3 miles are on highways, so be prepared for local roads for the majority of your trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 66.3 miles along Raymond P Shafer Highway. As you transition from the initial highway segment, expect the road to become more winding and less direct, requiring your full attention. This drive offers a dynamic feel, shifting between quicker highway portions and slower, more deliberate local road navigation.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.3 mi on Raymond P Shafer Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 2.6 miles (West Bayfront Parkway): Navigation decision point.

About the Cities

Starting in Erie, PA

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 93.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 66.3 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Oakland, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Oakland, PA before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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