Hershey to Erie is 308.8 miles and takes about 6h 7m via Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads. Given the relatively short driving time and reasonable fuel cost, this route is a solid choice for a single-day excursion. Plan for a straightforward transit between these two well-known PA locations.
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
154.4 miles from Hershey, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
102.7 mi
1h 50m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
US 322
65.2 mi
1h 22m
US 22
24.5 mi
32m
Mount Nittany Expressway
17.5 mi
21m
Port Matilda Highway
10.1 mi
14m
Philipsburg Bigler Highway
7.1 mi
8m
Woodland Bigler Highway
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,059 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,339
Quietest
2 AM
~181 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 Hershey, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 422
2.4 mi·4 min·West Chocolate Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 322
6.8 mi·9 min·US 322
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 322
0.5 mi·56 sec·US 322
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Carlisle, State CollegeUse the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 322
3.5 mi·4 min·US 322
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West
6
Continue on US 322
2.4 mi·3 min·US 322
Exit 51AToward I 81 South, US 322 West: Carlisle, State College
7
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 322
Exit 67A; 67BToward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
52 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 322
Exit 67BToward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State CollegeUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
24 mi·32 min·US 22; US 322
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College
10
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
18 mi·21 min·Mount Nittany Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·28th Division Highway
Exit 62Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
13
Continue on US 322
10 mi·14 min·Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
15
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Centre Street
16
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Front Street
17
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
18
Continue on US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
19
Turn right onto PA 970
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
21
Merge onto I 80
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
22
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
23
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
25
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Hershey to maximize your daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $55 budget is an estimate and prices can fluctuate; it's wise to refuel before you're running on fumes, especially in more rural stretches. A good place to consider a break might be around the halfway point, though the longest stretch without major highway changes is over 100 miles, so plan your stops accordingly.
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 154.4 miles from Hershey, PA, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.4 miles or 3h 16m 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 3m
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 Hershey, 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 Hershey, PA
This is one driving day of about 308.8 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Hershey, 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 102.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 422 / West Chocolate Avenue
Turn right onto US 422 / West Chocolate Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
9.2 mi into trip|~14m in|US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Carlisle, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Carlisle, State...
6
9.7 mi into trip|~15m in|US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto US 322 toward I 83 North, US 322 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West
6
15.6 mi into trip|~23m in|US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
15.8 mi into trip|~24m in|US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, Stat...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.24 one way
$98.48 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$54.49
$108.98
premium
$4.81
$58.45
$116.91
diesel
$4.80
$58.31
$116.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.6
1
$32.42
$14.82
Efficient EV
77.2
0
$27.02
$12.35
EV Truck/SUV
123.5
1
$43.23
$19.76
Gas CO2
108 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 17, 2026
Origin
Hershey, PA
Night
in Hershey on Sunday
Local time
11:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Erie, PA
Night
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
11:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
83°F
Clearfield, PA
154 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
4 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
6h 7m 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 21.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 56% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch covering 102.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway. Expect to transition from highway speeds to more varied surface roads as you progress. The latter portion of your drive will likely involve more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you move away from the primary interstate corridors. This mixed profile means you'll encounter both open cruising and more involved driving segments.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 early in the drive near US 422 / West Chocolate Avenue.
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 17 significant decision points across 308.8 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: near the start (US 422 / West Chocolate Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,788 ft356 ft
Total Climb
1,719 ft
Total Descent
1,482 ft
Highest Point
1,788 ft
~154.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,432 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hershey, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Lewistown and State College.
Hershey is an unincorporated village in the Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania. It has a rich history and cultural significance being the birthplace of Hershey's Chocolate. One of the village's most well known attractions is Hersheypark, a theme park that provides fun for the family.
Top landmarks
•Hersheypark — theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
•Fahrenheit — steel roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 308.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m 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 102.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 422 / West Chocolate Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 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.
