Spanning 321 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Erie to York takes approximately 6 hours and 23 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for a full day on the road. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, though the winding nature of the route makes it feel substantial. Expect to budget around $53 for fuel to cover the distance. Since both your start and end points are located in the Northeast, you will experience the distinct character of Pennsylvania’s regional landscape throughout the drive.
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
160.5 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
103.3 mi
1h 50m
General Potter Highway
79.4 mi
1h 42m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi
1h 11m
I 83
21.1 mi
25m
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
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 103.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-83
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,626 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~236 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 45 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 York, 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
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Centre Street
14
Turn left onto US 322
1.1 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
15
Continue on US 322
5.9 mi·8 min·Port Matilda Highway
16
Turn slight right onto US 322
2.2 mi·3 min·Upper Flat Rock Road
17
Continue on US 322
1.8 mi·2 min·Flat Rock Road
18
Continue on US 322
8.6 mi·9 min·28th Division Highway
Toward US 322 East: State College
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
6.2 mi·8 min·Mount Nittany Expressway
Exit 73Toward US 322 East: Penn State University, State College
21
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
79 mi·1 hr 42 min·General Potter Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Paxton Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Paxton Street
24
Turn right onto South 13th Street
269 ft·3 sec·South 13th Street
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 83 South: York
26
Merge onto I 83
1.5 mi·2 min·I 83
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 83
20 mi·23 min·I 83
Toward I 83 South: York, BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 83 Business, PA 181
29
Keep slight left at fork
172 ft·6 sec
Toward I 83 Business, PA 181
30
Turn right onto I 83 BUS; PA 181
2.0 mi·5 min·North George Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Arrive at destination
I 83 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the technical, turn-heavy nature of this 321-mile trip, starting your journey early in the morning is essential to avoid fatigue. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the continuous maneuvering requires more focus than standard highway driving. Since fuel costs are estimated at $53, keep an eye on your gauge while navigating local corridors where service stations may be less frequent than on major interstates. Because this route lacks high-speed stretches, treat your pace as a steady, methodical crawl rather than a race. A helpful tip is to map out your turns on West 12th Street and Greengarden Boulevard in advance to ensure you stay on track through the more complex local intersections.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.5 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h 56m 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 71 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.5 miles or 2h 56m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York, 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 321 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 319 — 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.
7
208.9 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|US 322 / Mount Nittany Expressway
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
Exit 73
Toward US 322 East: Penn State University, Stat...
8
299.1 mi into trip|~5h 54m in|I 83
Keep slight right at fork onto I 83 toward I 83 South: York, Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 83 South: York, Baltimore
7
319 mi into trip|~6h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 Business, PA 181
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 83 Business, PA 181
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.77 one way
$113.54 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$62.18
$124.36
premium
$5.24
$66.27
$132.55
diesel
$5.35
$67.61
$135.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.3
1
$33.71
$15.41
Efficient EV
80.3
0
$28.09
$12.84
EV Truck/SUV
128.4
1
$44.94
$20.54
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 29, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Evening
in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
7:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
S 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 29 at 4:00AM EDT until May 30 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
York, PA
Evening
in York on Wednesday
Local time
7:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 29 at 4:00AM EDT until May 30 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 298.9
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...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 298.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget about monotonous interstate cruising, as this route is defined by a turn-heavy, local-road personality. You will navigate via West 12th Street, Greengarden Boulevard, and the West Bayfront Parkway, moving away from high-speed highway travel entirely. With a highway share of 0%, your focus will remain on local navigation rather than open-road acceleration. The technical nature of these roads means you will be actively engaged behind the wheel for the duration of the 6-hour-plus trek. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid transit.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 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?
9/10
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.
Driving Effort9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 321 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,054 ft291 ft
Total Climb
1,823 ft
Total Descent
2,084 ft
Highest Point
2,054 ft
~160.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,763 ft
Notable High Points
2,054 ft at ~160.5 miles+516 ft prominence
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 York, PA, road signs point toward Shawville, State College and Baltimore.
York is a city in the Susquehanna Valley region of southern Pennsylvania. It is billed as the "factory tour capital of the world" for its numerous factory tours. It was a major city in U.S. revolutionary history as well, hosting the Continental Congress for a time. It is often viewed by locals as the first capital of the United States but it is unsure if this is actually true because it was never officially named the capital and it was only viewed as the capital because the Articles of Confederation were adopted in the York County Courthouse.
Top landmarks
•Golden Plough Tavern — historic tavern in Pennsylvania, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 321 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 21 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 York, 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 21 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 208.9 miles (US 322 / Mount Nittany Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at York, PA before the return drive.
