This 92-mile drive from Erie, PA to Oakwood, PA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's an economical option for exploring within the Northeast region. The route primarily utilizes local roads with some highway segments, suggesting a more engaging driving experience than a pure interstate journey. Since there are no specific stops recommended in the data, you'll have flexibility in planning your own breaks. This trip is perfect for a leisurely day out without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 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
Steingrabe Road
1.2 mi
1m
Glen Road
1.1 mi
2m
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 Oakwood, 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 15Toward 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 13Toward US 224: State Street, PolandUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
190 ft·6 sec
23
Turn left onto US 224
0.7 mi·1 min·West State Street
24
Turn left onto Lower Idlewild Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Lower Idlewild Drive
25
Turn right onto Burns Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·Burns Street
26
Turn right onto Avalon Drive
468 ft·20 sec·Avalon Drive
27
Arrive at destination
Avalon Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart. You can easily make it a morning excursion or an afternoon adventure. Since there are no designated stops, consider planning one for a meal or a quick stretch, especially during the longest 66.3-mile segment on Raymond P Shafer Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $15, and refueling options might be less frequent on the local road portions. This route is well-suited for a spontaneous day trip without needing extensive pre-planning.
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 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakwood, 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 92 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
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
$15.25 one way
$30.50 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$16.70
$33.41
premium
$4.93
$17.84
$35.68
diesel
$5.61
$20.31
$40.62
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: 32.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.66
$4.42
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Afternoon
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oakwood, PA
Afternoon
in Oakwood on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
18 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 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only a 5% highway share. The majority of your time will be spent on roads like Raymond P Shafer Highway and Mercer-New Wilmington Road. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 66.3 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway, offering a significant period of uninterrupted driving before you transition to other road types. This suggests a varied driving experience, moving from potentially more open highway sections to more intricate local roads as you progress towards Oakwood.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92 miles you will encounter 20 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 92 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m 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.
Yes — we found about 5 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 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 Oakwood, 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 Oakwood, PA before heading back.
