Traveling from McMurray to Erie covers 144.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes of drive time. Because this journey stays entirely within Pennsylvania, you won't need to worry about crossing state lines or adjusting to regional shifts. It is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you can easily head out in the morning and arrive by midday. Budgeting approximately $24 for fuel should keep your tank covered for the trip. Since there are no mandatory stops built into this 144.9-mile transit, you have the freedom to decide your own pace. Whether you are heading north for a quick getaway or a business trip, this straightforward route offers a direct way to connect these two communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.1 miles from McMurray, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Raymond P Shafer Highway
133 mi
2h 30m
Valley Brook Road
2.4 mi
5m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Georgetown Road
1.4 mi
2m
Baker Road
0.7 mi
1m
Southern Beltway
0.5 mi
<1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Morganza Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Raymond P Shafer Highway
— 133 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McMurray, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Thomas Road
52 ft·4 sec·Thomas Road
2
Turn right onto East McMurray Road
404 ft·16 sec·East McMurray Road
3
Turn left onto Valley Brook Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Valley Brook Road
4
Continue on Valley Brook Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Valley Brook Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Georgetown Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Georgetown Road
6
Turn right onto Baker Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Baker Road
7
Enter roundabout onto Morganza Road
226 ft·4 sec·Morganza Road
8
Continue on Morganza Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·Morganza Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward PA Turnpike 576 West
10
Merge onto PA Tpke 576
0.5 mi·31 sec·Southern Beltway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 19Toward I 79 North: PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 79
133 mi·2 hr 30 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
14
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 18-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since this is a local road-focused trip, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure your drive stays as smooth as possible. Keep in mind that without dedicated highway stretches, your pace will be dictated by local traffic and turn sequences, so factor in a little extra time for comfort breaks. Because you aren't tied to a rigid interstate schedule, feel free to stop whenever you see a convenient pull-off or service station. For a smooth transit, double-check your route on a GPS before leaving McMurray to stay on track through the winding local segments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.1 miles from McMurray, PA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133 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 31 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.1 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
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 McMurray, 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 McMurray, PA
This is one driving day of about 142.2 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from McMurray, 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 Raymond P Shafer Highway for about 133 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 5 and 141.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward PA Turnpike 576 West
Navigation decision point
Toward PA Turnpike 576 West
7
5.8 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19
Toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
5
6.2 mi into trip|~14m in|I 79 / Raymond P Shafer Highway
Merge onto I 79 / Raymond P Shafer Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
139.2 mi into trip|~2h 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
6
141.8 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.57 one way
$47.15 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$25.82
$51.64
premium
$4.93
$27.58
$55.16
diesel
$5.61
$31.40
$62.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.93
$6.83
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.44
$5.69
EV Truck/SUV
56.9
0
$19.91
$9.10
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
McMurray, PA
Late night
in McMurray on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Widespread Fog
W 3 mph17% 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
23 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
2h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route relies on roads like East McMurray, Valley Brook, and Georgetown. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more engaged, hands-on experience behind the wheel. The path demands your full attention as you navigate local stretches that lack the speed and predictability of major freeways. Because the road consists entirely of local passages, the character of the drive remains consistent from start to finish. You will find that the lack of highway miles keeps your speed lower, requiring a more patient approach to your travel time.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133 mi on Raymond P Shafer Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (I 79 / Raymond P Shafer Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 133 miles on Raymond P Shafer Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (I 79 / Raymond P Shafer Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Erie, PA before heading back.
