Erie to Williamsburg is 222.9 miles and takes about 4h 21m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and a local feel, rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential for a stop along the way. Consider this if you prefer a more varied driving experience over pure highway efficiency.
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
111.4 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
103.3 mi
1h 50m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
Tyrone Pike
13.7 mi
20m
PA 453
9 mi
13m
Philipsburg Bigler Highway
7.1 mi
8m
William Penn Highway
5.2 mi
7m
Yellow Spring Drive
3.7 mi
6m
I 99
2.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 103.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Williamsburg, 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
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward I 80 East: Clarion
7
Merge onto I 80
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
9
Merge onto PA 970
1.4 mi·1 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
11
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
12
Continue on US 322
0.3 mi·23 sec·North Front Street
13
Continue on US 322; PA 53
1.4 mi·2 min·North Centre Street
14
Continue on PA 350
14 mi·20 min·Tyrone Pike
15
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
16
Merge onto I 99; US 220
2.9 mi·3 min·I 99; US 220
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward PA 453: Tyrone
18
Turn left onto PA 453
9.0 mi·13 min·PA 453
19
Turn right onto US 22
5.2 mi·7 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Yellow Spring Drive
3.7 mi·6 min·Yellow Spring Drive
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on High Street
0.6 mi·1 min·High Street
22
Turn left onto East 1st Street
291 ft·12 sec·East 1st Street
23
Arrive at destination
East 1st Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 21-minute journey, leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 222.9-mile trip comfortably. While the drive is feasible in one day, with only one recommended stop, don't feel rushed. The 'turn-heavy local drive' nature suggests planning your route carefully with a GPS or reliable map, as navigating frequent turns can be more demanding than a straight highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. Your estimated fuel cost is around $37, so budget accordingly.
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 111.4 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.3 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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.4 miles or 2h 3m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Williamsburg, 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 222.9 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 Keystone Shortway for about 103.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 173.6 — 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
5
173.3 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
5
173.6 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|PA 970 / Shawville Highway
Merge onto PA 970 / Shawville Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.95 one way
$73.91 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$40.47
$80.95
premium
$4.93
$43.23
$86.46
diesel
$5.61
$49.21
$98.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.9
0
$23.40
$10.70
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.92
EV Truck/SUV
89.2
1
$31.21
$14.27
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 13 to 17 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 3:52AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:11AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Williamsburg, PA
Morning
in Williamsburg on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
NW 12 to 15 mph77% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 3:52AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:11AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a lower highway share, with only 5% of the drive on major highways. The majority of your time will be spent on local roads, including stretches of the Keystone Shortway and Raymond P Shafer Highway, characterized by a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 103.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of more consistent travel before re-engaging with more varied road conditions. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires more active navigation and attention due to the frequent changes in direction and road type.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 14 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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 222.9 miles you will encounter 14 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.
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 Williamsburg, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Shawville along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 222.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Williamsburg, 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 17 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 2.6 miles (West Bayfront Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Williamsburg, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
