Origin
Muncy, PA
Afternoon in Muncy on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Muncy, 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
4h 59m
Distance
272.9 mi
439 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 46m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muncy, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Muncy, PA, to Erie, PA, covers a distance of 272.9 miles and will take approximately 4 hours and 59 minutes of driving time. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $45. You'll primarily travel on the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a portion on I-180, making for a drive that's about 28% highway. The overall feel is more of a turn-heavy local drive than a straight interstate cruise. This trip stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a straightforward path from one point to another.
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
136.5 miles from Muncy, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 191.5 mi | 3h 25m |
| I 79 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 180 | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Susquehanna Trail Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Water Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 191.5 mi, about 3h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muncy, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on North Green Alley
40 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Green Alley
2
Turn right onto PA 405
213 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Water Street
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on Susquehanna Trail Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Susquehanna Trail Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
6
Merge onto I 180
9.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 180
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 80 West: Bellefonte
8
Merge onto I 80
192 mi
·
3 hr 25 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 4-hour and 59-minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 272.9 miles and refuel, especially considering the estimated $45 fuel cost. Watch for the change in road types as you transition between the Keystone Shortway and other highways like I-79 and I-180. A practical tip is to ensure your navigation system is set to avoid tolls if you wish to stick to the most budget-friendly route, though this may extend your travel time.
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 136.5 miles from Muncy, PA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 191.5 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 60 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.5 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
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 Muncy, 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 Muncy, PA
This is one driving day of about 272.9 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Muncy, 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 191.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.5 miles from Muncy, 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 191.5 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 272.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 405 / East Water Street
Turn right onto PA 405 / East Water Street
Navigation decision point
4
11.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 West: Bellefonte
6
269.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 52m 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
270.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m 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
272.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 58m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.24 one way
$90.49 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $49.55 | $99.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $52.93 | $105.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.25 | $120.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.9 | 1 | $28.65 | $13.10 |
| Efficient EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.88 | $10.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.2 | 1 | $38.21 | $17.47 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Afternoon in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
2:45 PM
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 59m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a turn-heavy local character, with only 28% of the route being on highways. Expect a dynamic driving experience that deviates from a monotonous interstate grind. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 191.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a good period of consistent travel. As you progress, the road will likely shift between faster highway sections and more winding local roads, requiring your attention throughout the approximately 5-hour journey.
Only 28% 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: 191.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 early in the drive near PA 405 / East Water 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 4h 59m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 405 / East Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 269.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Muncy, PA
Full guide →Founded 1797
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 4h 59m. Total distance: 272.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 191.5 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.
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: near the start (PA 405 / East Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 269.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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