This 310.9-mile journey from Hegins, PA to Erie, PA is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 5 hours and 51 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a modest 21% of the drive on highways. With a fuel cost estimated at $52, it's an economically feasible single-day adventure. The route offers a blend of driving experiences across Pennsylvania, making it a practical option for getting from the Northeast region to its northwestern corner without needing an overnight stay. This trip is designed for a single day of travel.
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
155.5 miles from Hegins, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
204 mi
3h 39m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Locust Gap Highway
11.5 mi
13m
South Market Street
9.7 mi
11m
Deep Creek Road
7.5 mi
16m
Continental Boulevard
3 mi
3m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Fairgrounds Road
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 204 mi, about 3h 39m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 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
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 Hegins, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 125
1.2 mi·2 min·South Good Spring Road
2
Turn right onto Deep Creek Road
1.6 mi·3 min·Deep Creek Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Deep Creek Road
6.0 mi·12 min·Deep Creek Road
4
Turn left onto PA 901
1.4 mi·1 min·Sunbury Road
5
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
6
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi·43 sec·Locust Gap Highway
7
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi·13 min·Locust Gap Highway
8
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·South Market Street
9
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi·45 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
13
Merge onto I 80
204 mi·3 hr 39 min·Keystone Shortway
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
15
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
17
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 51-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Hegins to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 204-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. This route is best tackled in a single day, so a mid-day stop for lunch and a stretch is advisable. Remember to check your tire pressure before leaving, as varied road conditions can affect handling.
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 155.5 miles from Hegins, PA, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204 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 68 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.5 miles or 3h 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 47m
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 Hegins, 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 Hegins, PA
This is one driving day of about 310.9 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Hegins, 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 204 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 310.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in|Deep Creek Road
At end of road, turn left onto Deep Creek Road
Navigation decision point
5
33.6 mi into trip|~47m in|PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
307.9 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
308.2 mi into trip|~5h 45m 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
310.5 mi into trip|~5h 50m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.57 one way
$99.15 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$54.86
$109.72
premium
$4.81
$58.85
$117.70
diesel
$4.80
$58.70
$117.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
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, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Hegins, PA
Morning
in Hegins on Monday
Local time
7:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Monday
Local time
7:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
8 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
5h 51m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 310.9-mile route. While 21% of the journey is on highways, the majority unfolds on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a significant period of consistent driving. This route is characterized by its frequent changes in direction and road type, moving from more open highway sections to more winding local segments as you progress toward Erie.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 204 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near Deep Creek Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 310.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.8 miles (Deep Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 33.6 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 307.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 310.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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.
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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (Deep Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 33.6 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 307.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 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.
