Traveling from Hopewell to Erie spans a total of 362.5 miles, a journey that typically takes about 7 hours and 22 minutes to complete. Because this trip stays entirely within Pennsylvania’s Northeast region, you will find a consistent atmosphere as you navigate across the state. While it is technically possible to finish the drive in a single day, be prepared for a substantial time commitment behind the wheel. Budgeting approximately $60 for fuel should cover your primary travel costs for the trek. Since the route utilizes a mix of I-79, US 322, and the Keystone Shortway, it serves as a straightforward, functional transit across the state rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour.
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
181.3 miles from Hopewell, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
102.7 mi
1h 50m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
US 322
54.4 mi
1h 7m
PA 283
28.6 mi
33m
US 22
24.5 mi
32m
Mount Nittany Expressway
17.5 mi
21m
Port Matilda Highway
10.1 mi
14m
Kirkwood Pike
8.9 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hopewell, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on this road
105 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Hopewell Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Hopewell Road
3
Turn sharp left onto Roneys Corner Road
1.2 mi·4 min·Roneys Corner Road
4
Turn left onto PA 472
1.5 mi·2 min·West Lancaster Avenue
5
Continue on PA 472
8.9 mi·12 min·Kirkwood Pike
6
Continue on PA 472
0.7 mi·1 min·South Lime Street
7
Turn left onto PA 372
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
8
Turn right onto US 222
0.6 mi·49 sec·West 4th Street
9
Continue on US 222
6.9 mi·9 min·Beaver Valley Pike
10
Turn right onto Penn Grant Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Penn Grant Road
11
Continue on Lampeter Road
4.6 mi·8 min·Lampeter Road
12
Continue on Pitney Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Pitney Road
13
Turn right onto Hempstead Road
0.4 mi·52 sec·Hempstead Road
14
Turn right onto Greenfield Road
396 ft·7 sec·Greenfield Road
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 30 West
16
Merge onto US 30
3.4 mi·4 min·US 30
17
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283
29 mi·33 min·PA 283
Toward PA 283 West: HarrisburgUse the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 283 North: Harrisburg
19
Merge onto I 283
1.9 mi·2 min·I 283
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 283
Exit 3B-CToward I 83 North, US 322
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 3BToward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
22
Continue on I 83
3.7 mi·5 min·I 83
23
Continue on US 322
2.4 mi·3 min·US 322
Exit 51AToward I 81 South, US 322 West: Carlisle, State College
24
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
25
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.
26
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
27
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
18 mi·21 min·Mount Nittany Expressway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·28th Division Highway
Exit 62Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
30
Continue on US 322
10 mi·14 min·Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
32
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Centre Street
33
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Front Street
34
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
35
Continue on US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
36
Turn right onto PA 970
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
38
Merge onto I 80
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
39
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
40
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
41
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
42
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
43
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
44
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
To manage your 7-hour and 22-minute drive effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Since you are covering 362.5 miles in one day, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and heavy traffic. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 102.7-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as service availability can vary compared to the more populated interstate sections. Because this is a long, single-day endeavor, remain flexible with your schedule to allow for unexpected delays. Having your $60 fuel budget ready in advance will help keep your logistical planning simple and stress-free.
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 181.3 miles from Hopewell, PA, or about 4h 2m 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 80 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.3 miles or 4h 2m 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 13m
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 Hopewell, 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 Hopewell, PA
This is one driving day of about 362.5 miles and 7h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hopewell, 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 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 31.6 and 69.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
31.6 mi into trip|~52m in|PA 283
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283 toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
7
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 283
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283 toward I 83 North, US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B-C
Toward I 83 North, US 322
8
62.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
$58.31 one way
$116.63 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$65.64
$131.27
premium
$4.95
$70.70
$141.40
diesel
$5.98
$85.34
$170.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.8
1
$38.06
$17.40
Efficient EV
90.6
1
$31.72
$14.50
EV Truck/SUV
145
1
$50.75
$23.20
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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 17, 2026
Origin
Hopewell, PA
Late night
in Hopewell on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Widespread Fog then Partly Sunny
N 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 4:51AM EDT until April 17 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
57°F
Wellsville, NY
181 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
18 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 22m 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...
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...
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...
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, balancing high-speed transit with more varied road types. You will spend about 55% of your travel time on highways, providing a blend of rapid interstate cruising and slower, more technical sections. The most significant portion of the drive is the 102.7-mile stretch along the Keystone Shortway, which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. As you transition between the Keystone Shortway, I-79, and US 322, the road character shifts, requiring you to remain alert to changing speed limits and traffic patterns. Expect a functional, utilitarian experience that prioritizes steady progress over scenic winding lanes.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
44 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?
10/10
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 31.6 miles in near PA 283.
Driving Effort10/10
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 29 significant decision points across 362.5 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 31.6 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.6 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,747 ft273 ft
Total Climb
1,683 ft
Total Descent
1,376 ft
Highest Point
1,747 ft
~207.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,473 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hopewell, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward State College and Lewistown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 22m. Total distance: 362.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 22m 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.
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 31.6 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.6 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and First State National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 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.
