Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h
Distance
310.9 mi
500 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
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
Williamstown, PA
Michael Taccetta
This 310.9-mile drive from Erie to Williamstown, Pennsylvania, will take approximately 6 hours to complete. Primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway and PA 147, with a segment on the Raymond P Shafer Highway, this route is manageable as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $52, it's an economical option for exploring the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. The drive offers a turn-heavy local feel, suggesting a pace that allows for appreciating the journey rather than rushing to the destination. You'll spend about 13% of your time on highways, so expect a mix of road types.
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
155.4 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 192.1 mi | 3h 26m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| PA 147 | 25.6 mi | 34m |
| US 209 | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| North Crossroads Road | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| PA 225 | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| US 15 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| West 12th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,074 veh/hr typical · worst 1,411
Quietest
2 AM
~183 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).
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Williamstown, 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
Merge onto PA 147
Continue on County Line Road
Turn right onto US 15
Take the exit
Continue on PA 61; PA 147
Take the exit onto PA 147
Turn slight right onto Grove Road
Turn straight onto PA 225
Turn right onto PA 225
Turn left onto Luxemburg Road
Turn right onto North Crossroads Road
Turn left onto US 209
Continue on South Water Street
Turn right onto Station Street
Turn left onto South West Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Arrive at destination
For this 310.9-mile trip, consider an early morning departure to make the most of your 6-hour driving window. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from major highway stretches. The longest segment on the Keystone Shortway at 192.1 miles means you can cover significant ground there without frequent stops. Pay attention to posted speed limits on the local road portions to ensure a smooth and safe arrival in Williamstown.
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 68 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.4 miles or 2h 51m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Williamstown, 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 310.9 miles and 6h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 155.4 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 192.1 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 262.2 — 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
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 147 South: Milton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$50.72 one way
$101.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.56 | $55.78 | $111.56 |
| premium | $4.86 | $59.52 | $119.05 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $66.13 | $132.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.3 | 1 | $32.64 | $14.92 |
| Efficient EV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.20 | $12.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.4 | 1 | $43.53 | $19.90 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Erie on Sunday
Local time
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Williamstown on Sunday
Local time
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 6-hour journey. While 13% of the route is on highways, the majority will have you navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 192.1 miles along the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of more consistent travel. As you progress, the character of the road will shift, moving from more open highway segments to more winding, local thoroughfares. This dynamic profile means you'll need to stay engaged behind the wheel.
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 310.9 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 2.6 miles (West Bayfront Parkway): Navigation decision point.
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
Founded 1869
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h. Total distance: 310.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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