Trip from Erie, PA to Walnutport, 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
6h 30m
Distance
344.6 mi
555 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Walnutport, PA
Haneul Trac
Trip Overview
Erie to Walnutport is 344.6 miles and takes about 6h 30m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Pennsylvania, taking you across the Northeast region of the state. Expect a route that largely sticks to surface roads after a significant initial highway stretch. With a recommended one-day drive time, this trip is best suited for those looking for a direct transit between these two points without extensive detours.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
172.3 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m 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 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Hudson Drive | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| West Broad Street | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| State Route 93 | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Hunter Street | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| East Catawissa Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
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
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 Walnutport, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93; PA 924
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on State Route 93
Continue on PA 93
At end of road, turn left onto US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Turn left onto US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Turn right onto PA 248
Take the exit
Merge onto PA 145
Continue on PA 145
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6.5-hour estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive with daylight. The route features only one stop, so plan your fuel and breaks accordingly. With a fuel cost estimate of $62, it's wise to fill up before departing Erie or during the initial highway portion. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility in departure time and can adjust your pace as needed.
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 76 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.3 miles or 3h 9m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Walnutport, 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 344.6 miles and 6h 30m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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
A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 172.3 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
Montour County Rest Area Eastbound
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Flying J Travel Center
TA
Venango County Rest Area Westbound
Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound
Centre County Rest Area Westbound
Rest Area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound
Clinton County Rest Area Westbound
Venango County Rest Area Eastbound
Onvo Travel Plaza
Zachrich Trucking Inc
Pilot Travel Center
TA
Pilot Travel Center
Flying J Travel Center
Flying J Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
Columbia County Rest Area Eastbound
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
Love's Travel Stop
Clarion Service Plaza
TA
TA
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.
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward PA 93: Conyngham, Nescopeck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.94 one way
$121.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $66.75 | $133.50 |
| premium | $5.24 | $71.14 | $142.29 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $72.58 | $145.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.18 | $16.54 |
| Efficient EV | 86.2 | 0 | $30.15 | $13.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.8 | 1 | $48.24 | $22.05 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Evening in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
5:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
Destination
Walnutport, PA
Evening in Walnutport on Wednesday
Local time
5:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
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
2 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
6h 30m 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 mostly surface roads, with highway driving accounting for about 33% of the total distance. You'll spend most of your time on local and state routes, with the longest continuous stretch on the Keystone Shortway covering 236.3 miles. After this initial highway section, expect a change in pace as you transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 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.
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 344.6 miles you will encounter 12 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,051 ft
Total Descent
3,317 ft
Highest Point
1,780 ft
~196.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,393 ft
Notable High Points
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 Walnutport, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Nescopeck along the way.
Nescopeck
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
Arriving in Walnutport, PA
Full guide →Founded 1989
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 6h 30m. Total distance: 344.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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