This 239.3-mile drive from Lewistown to Erie, Pennsylvania, is a feasible one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 38 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a portion on US 522, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $40, this journey can be completed efficiently. Traveling within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you'll experience a straightforward path connecting these two points. Consider starting early to maximize your daylight hours and make the most of this relatively quick journey.
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
119.6 miles from Lewistown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
102.7 mi
1h 50m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
US 522
21.8 mi
28m
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
Boal Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewistown, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Chestnut Street
119 ft·11 sec·Chestnut Street
2
Turn sharp right onto Valley Street
0.4 mi·45 sec·Valley Street
3
Turn right onto South Walnut Street
0.3 mi·58 sec·South Walnut Street
4
Take the exit onto US 522
22 mi·28 min·US 522
5
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
18 mi·21 min·Mount Nittany Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·28th Division Highway
Exit 62Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
8
Continue on US 322
10 mi·14 min·Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
10
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Centre Street
11
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Front Street
12
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
13
Continue on US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
14
Turn right onto PA 970
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
16
Merge onto I 80
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
18
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
20
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
For this 239.3-mile journey, a single day is definitely manageable, but starting between 8-9 AM will give you ample time. Since it's a 4 hour and 38 minute drive, you might consider one planned stop for fuel and a quick break about halfway through. The longest stretch is over 100 miles, so plan your next break accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading onto longer, potentially less serviced sections of the Keystone Shortway. With a fuel cost estimate of $40, it's wise to fill up before you leave Lewistown.
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 119.6 miles from Lewistown, PA, or about 2h 25m 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 53 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.6 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 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 Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, PA
This is one driving day of about 239.3 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Lewistown, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 238.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Valley Street
Turn sharp right onto Valley Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|US 522
Take the exit onto US 522
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
42.7 mi into trip|~56m in|US 322 / 28th Division Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 / 28th Division Highway toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 62
Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
6
236.3 mi into trip|~4h 30m 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
6
238.9 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.67 one way
$79.35 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$43.45
$86.90
premium
$4.93
$46.41
$92.82
diesel
$5.61
$52.83
$105.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.8
0
$25.13
$11.49
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.94
$9.57
EV Truck/SUV
95.7
1
$33.50
$15.32
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Lewistown, PA
Morning
in Lewistown on Tuesday
Local time
9:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
9:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
4h 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll find this drive to be a mixed bag, with 44% of it on highways. Expect a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 102.7 miles along the Keystone Shortway, which likely offers a more open-road feel. The inclusion of I-79 suggests some faster-paced interstate driving, while US 522 might introduce more local road characteristics. This blend means you won't be stuck in a monotonous highway grind for the entire 4 hours and 38 minutes, offering some variation as you progress towards Erie.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Valley Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 239.3 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Valley Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.7 miles (US 522): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 42.7 miles (US 322 / 28th Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 239.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Valley Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.7 miles (US 522): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 42.7 miles (US 322 / 28th Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
