Erie to Williams is 219.4 miles and takes about 4h 26m via Raymond P Shafer Highway and Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region of the state. You'll experience a mixed highway and surface road profile, making it a manageable one-day drive. Plan for about 41% of your trip to be on highways. This route is a good option if you're looking for a straightforward drive with a clear destination in mind.
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
109.7 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Raymond P Shafer Highway
104 mi
1h 51m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
90.3 mi
1h 36m
Glades Pike
10 mi
17m
Glen Savage Road
4.6 mi
11m
Fairhope Road
2.2 mi
5m
West 12th Street
2 mi
4m
Burkett Hill Road
1.8 mi
7m
Brotherton Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Raymond P Shafer Highway
— 104 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-79
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,438 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,767
Quietest
2 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Williams, 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
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 78-77Toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania TurnpikeUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Youngstown Ohio, HarrisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 77Toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
10
Merge onto I 76; PATP
90 mi·1 hr 36 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
11
Turn right
411 ft·34 sec
12
Turn right onto Brotherton Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Brotherton Road
13
Turn left onto PA 31
10 mi·17 min·Glades Pike
14
Turn right onto Glen Savage Road
4.6 mi·11 min·Glen Savage Road
15
Turn left onto Burkett Hill Road
1.8 mi·7 min·Burkett Hill Road
16
Turn straight onto Shaffers Run Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Shaffers Run Road
17
Continue on Fairhope Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Fairhope Road
18
Arrive at destination
Fairhope Road
Trip Plan
With a total duration of around 4 hours and 26 minutes, this trip is easily achievable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Williams without feeling rushed. The route includes one stop point, but with a drive under five hours, you might not need it. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $39; it's wise to fill up before embarking, especially before the longest stretch on the Raymond P Shafer Highway. Given the relatively short distance, you have flexibility if you decide to make an unscheduled stop.
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 109.7 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104 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 48 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.7 miles or 2h 4m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Williams, 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 219.4 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 104 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 108.1 — 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.
8
106.7 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike
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 78-77
Toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike
8
107.3 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
9
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 77
Toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.98 one way
$69.97 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$38.71
$77.43
premium
$4.81
$41.53
$83.06
diesel
$4.80
$41.43
$82.85
Estimated Tolls: $11.74
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(90.3 mi)$11.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.8
0
$23.04
$10.53
Efficient EV
54.9
0
$19.20
$8.78
EV Truck/SUV
87.8
1
$30.72
$14.04
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Monday
Local time
3:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Williams, PA
Late night
in Williams on Monday
Local time
3:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
83°F
Valencia, PA
110 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
4h 26m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 196.7
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 166.5
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 196.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a significant 41% highway share, with the longest continuous stretch covering 104 miles on the Raymond P Shafer Highway. After this, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a mix of driving conditions, moving from potentially faster highway cruising to navigating more local traffic. The shift from highway to surface roads means a noticeable change in the driving environment.
41% 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: 104 mi on Raymond P Shafer Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 219.4 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 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,317 ft653 ft
Total Climb
2,167 ft
Total Descent
1,567 ft
Highest Point
2,317 ft
~203.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,665 ft
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 Williams, PA, road signs point toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike, Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg and Patp: Youngstown Ohio.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 219.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.74 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Williams, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Flight 93 National Memorial, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Williams, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
