Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Moscow, PA to Erie, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 35m
Distance
354.6 mi
571 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 23m
★
6 AM
6h 35m
8 AM
6h 59m
10 AM
6h 44m
12 PM
6h 41m
3 PM
6h 45m
5 PM
6h 58m
8 PM
6h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Moscow, PA
Serg Alesenko
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Moscow, PA to Erie, PA is 354.6 miles and takes about 6h 35m via Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. The drive primarily uses surface roads, so expect a more laid-back pace than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is a solid choice for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
177.3 miles from Moscow, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 239.4 mi | 4h 18m |
| I 79 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 35 mi | 42m |
| I 380 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Church Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.4 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical · worst 1,466
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Moscow, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 435; PA 690
94 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto PA 690
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Church Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge onto I 380
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 380
5
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
6
Merge onto I 81
35 mi
·
42 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
8
Merge onto I 80
239 mi
·
4 hr 18 min
·
Keystone Shortway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
10
Merge onto I 79
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 79
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
12
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 35m estimated duration, leaving Moscow, PA in the morning will allow ample time to reach Erie, PA before dark. Plan for your single recommended stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point or after the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move from highway driving to surface roads where stations might be less frequent. The $59 fuel cost is an estimate, so monitor prices along your route to stay within budget. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time based on conditions.
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 177.3 miles from Moscow, PA, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.4 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 78 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.3 miles or 3h 19m 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 26m
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 Moscow, 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 Moscow, PA
This is one driving day of about 354.6 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Moscow, 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 239.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.3 miles from Moscow, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 239.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Centre County Rest Area Westbound
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Venango County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Centre County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Venango County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Blue Ridge Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Zachrich Trucking Inc
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Luzerne County Rest Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Montour County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Clarion Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 8.8 and 354.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
8.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
5
45 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
6
351.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 28m 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
351.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 28m 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
354.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 33m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.54 one way
$113.08 round trip
$4.05/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $62.57 | $125.14 |
| premium | $4.81 | $67.12 | $134.25 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $66.96 | $133.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.4 | 1 | $37.23 | $17.02 |
| Efficient EV | 88.7 | 1 | $31.03 | $14.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.8 | 1 | $49.64 | $22.69 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Origin
Moscow, PA
Late night in Moscow on Monday
Local time
5:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Smoke
NW 2 to 6 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night in Erie on Monday
Local time
5:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Smoke
W 1 to 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
83°F
Clearfield, PA
177 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 35m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 20% of this 354.6-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 239.4 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After that, you'll transition to mostly surface roads, which means you'll encounter more local traffic and traffic lights. Expect to navigate more varied driving conditions compared to a full interstate experience.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 354.6 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 45 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 351.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,567 ft
653 ft
Total Climb
1,244 ft
Total Descent
2,158 ft
Highest Point
1,567 ft
Elevation Range
914 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Moscow, PA
Full guide →Founded 1830
Arriving in Erie, PA
Full guide →Founded 1795
Erie is a city of about 100,000 in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's only lake port on the Great Lakes (Lake Erie).
Top landmarks
- • USS Niagara — 2000 restoration/replica wooden-hulled 1813 snow-brig
- • Erie Land Light — lighthouse in Pennsylvania, United States
- • Boston Store — former department store, founded in Erie, Pennsylvania
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 6h 35m. Total distance: 354.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 45 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 351.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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