Origin
Mercer, PA
Late night in Mercer on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mercer, PA to Erie, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
69.8 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mercer, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Mercer to Erie, you are looking at a straightforward 70.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via Franklin Street, Franklin Road, and PA 5 East to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. This drive is ideal for those who prefer staying off the major interstates and navigating local roads directly.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 61.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Franklin Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Erie Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 61.4 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mercer, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on US 19; US 62; PA 58; PA 258
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Erie Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 62
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the slight right / right lanes.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Franklin Road
Toward US 62 North: Franklin
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
5
Merge onto I 79
61 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 79
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
7
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
State Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.9 miles from Mercer, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 69.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 19; US 62 / Franklin Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 62 / Franklin Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right / right lanes.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 62 / Franklin Road
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62 / Franklin Road toward US 62 North: Franklin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 62 North: Franklin
6
66.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
67 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.57 one way
$23.14 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.67 | $25.35 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.54 | $27.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.41 | $30.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.33 | $3.35 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.11 | $2.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.77 | $4.47 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will spend your time navigating through local thoroughfares, meaning there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch of road to zone out on. Because the entire 70.3 miles are comprised of local surface streets, you will need to remain attentive to frequent turns and changing road conditions. The experience is much more engaged and hands-on than a high-speed freeway cruise. Be prepared for a steady, rhythmic pace that reflects the character of the regional roads connecting these two Pennsylvania hubs.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.4 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Franklin Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 19; US 62 / Franklin Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 21m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 19; US 62 / Franklin Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 62 / Franklin Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Erie, PA
Full guide →Erie is a city of about 100,000 in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's only lake port on the Great Lakes (Lake Erie).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 69.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.4 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 19; US 62 / Franklin Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 62 / Franklin Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Erie, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Erie, PA
More from Mercer, PA
More trips to Erie, PA
Explore more options from Mercer, PA or browse trips ending in Erie, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.