Spanning 422.4 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Fairview to Erie is a significant undertaking that typically requires about 7 hours and 49 minutes of time behind the wheel. Given the length, you should plan for a full day of travel, though the route is manageable as a single-day trip if you are prepared for the distance. You will navigate via a combination of the Keystone Shortway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, and I-79. Budgeting around $70 for fuel is a smart move before you head out. Since both the start and end points are located within the Northeast, you can expect a familiar regional feel throughout the drive. This trip is best suited for those who don't mind spending most of their day on the road to reach their destination.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
211.2 miles from Fairview, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
256.6 mi
4h 37m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75 mi
1h 21m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Mid-County Expressway
19 mi
25m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Fairview Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Macdade Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 256.6 mi, about 4h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairview, PA and Erie, PA.
Exit 95Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
11
Merge onto I 80
257 mi·4 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
13
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
15
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 422.4-mile trek successfully, aim for an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours. You should plan for at least two designated stops to stretch your legs and refuel, helping you maintain focus during the long stretches on the Keystone Shortway. Because the route is a full-day commitment, keeping your itinerary flexible will help you manage fatigue effectively. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge throughout the drive to ensure you stay within your estimated $70 budget. Since the route utilizes both the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-79, confirm your route navigation ahead of time to handle these major highway transitions smoothly.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 211.2 miles from Fairview, PA, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 256.6 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 93 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.2 miles or 3h 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 6h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Erie, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairview, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fairview, PA
This is one driving day of about 422.4 miles and 7h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Fairview, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 256.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 95.1 and 421.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
5
95.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
6
419.4 mi into trip|~7h 42m in
Take the exit toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
5
419.6 mi into trip|~7h 43m 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 / right lanes.
6
421.9 mi into trip|~7h 48m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.03 one way
$140.06 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg148 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$76.70
$153.39
premium
$4.93
$81.92
$163.84
diesel
$5.61
$93.26
$186.52
Estimated Tolls: $9.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75 mi)$9.75
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
$70
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.7
1
$44.35
$20.28
Efficient EV
105.6
1
$36.96
$16.90
EV Truck/SUV
169
2
$59.14
$27.03
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Fairview, PA
Night
in Fairview on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Night
in Erie on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
S 12 to 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Cuba, NY
211 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
25 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
7h 49m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 14.6
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps you engaged across various road types. You will spend roughly 38% of your time on highways, balancing efficient interstate travel with more localized driving. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 256.6-mile stretch along the Keystone Shortway, which serves as the backbone of the trip. Expect the rhythm of the drive to shift as you transition between the turnpike and I-79. While the route involves plenty of time on major arteries, the mix of road classifications ensures the experience doesn't feel like a monotonous, singular grind from start to finish.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 256.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 95.1 miles in.
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 12 significant decision points across 422.4 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 95.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 419.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Fairview, PA to Erie, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Pocono along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 49m. Total distance: 422.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 256.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.75 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Erie, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 95.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 419.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, First State National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Erie, PA before the return drive.
