Origin
Erie, PA
Morning in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 54m
Distance
298.2 mi
480 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
West Fairview, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Erie to West Fairview is 298.2 miles and takes about 5h 54m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. With most of the drive on surface roads, expect a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. It's a single-day trip that allows for a relaxed pace, especially if you depart mid-morning.
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
149.1 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 103.3 mi | 1h 50m |
| General Potter Highway | 74 mi | 1h 33m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| 28th Division Highway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Philipsburg Bigler Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Mount Nittany Expressway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Port Matilda Highway | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| I 99 | 4 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and West Fairview, 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
Merge onto PA 970
Turn left onto US 322
Continue on US 322
Continue on US 322
Continue on US 322; PA 53
Turn left onto US 322
Continue on US 322
Turn slight right onto US 322
Continue on US 322
Continue on US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto PA 39
At end of road, turn left onto North Front Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 11; US 15
Continue on US 11; US 15
Turn slight right
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Turn right onto North Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 5h 54m estimated drive time, leaving Erie any time before midday should get you to West Fairview with plenty of daylight to spare. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the drive with a brief pause around the halfway mark, perhaps after completing the 103.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as stretches between services might be longer on the surface road portions, and the estimated $49 fuel cost is a good benchmark for budgeting.
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.
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 66 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.1 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Fairview, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 298.2 miles and 5h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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.
A short stop after about 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 149.1 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 103.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 294 — 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
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 / Mount Nittany Expressway toward US 322 East: Penn State University, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 11, US 15: Marysville, Enola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 South, US 15 South: Enola
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$49.44 one way
$98.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $54.15 | $108.29 |
| premium | $4.93 | $57.83 | $115.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.84 | $131.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.5 | 1 | $31.31 | $14.31 |
| Efficient EV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.09 | $11.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.3 | 1 | $41.75 | $19.08 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in West Fairview on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
64°F
Clearfield, PA
149 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is primarily surface roads for about two-thirds of the way, meaning you'll experience more local traffic and lower speeds. The Keystone Shortway accounts for the longest continuous stretch at 103.3 miles, offering a more open-road feel before transitioning. You’ll encounter the General Potter Highway and Raymond P Shafer Highway as well, contributing to the largely non-interstate profile.
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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 298.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 208.9 miles (US 322 / Mount Nittany Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Erie, PA and West Fairview, PA, road signs point toward Shawville and State College.
Shawville
State College
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 298.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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