This 328.5-mile journey from Nesquehoning, PA to Erie, PA will take approximately 6 hours and 8 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a final stretch on Hudson Drive, this route is feasible as a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $54, it’s an economical option for exploring Pennsylvania. The drive offers a turn-heavy local feel for much of the way, so be prepared for varied road conditions. Given its duration and profile, it's a practical choice for a focused road trip within the Northeast region.
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
164.2 miles from Nesquehoning, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
236.1 mi
4h 14m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Hudson Drive
5.8 mi
8m
East Broad Street
3.8 mi
4m
State Route 93
3.7 mi
7m
Hunter Street
2.8 mi
3m
Susquehanna Boulevard
2.3 mi
3m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 236.1 mi, about 4h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nesquehoning, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on North Mermon Avenue
59 ft·7 sec·North Mermon Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 209
1.2 mi·2 min·East Catawissa Street
3
Turn left onto PA 93
523 ft·7 sec·Hudson Drive
4
Continue on State Route 93
2.8 mi·3 min·Hunter Street
5
Continue on PA 93
5.7 mi·8 min·Hudson Drive
6
Continue on PA 93
0.5 mi·34 sec·Broad Street
7
Continue on PA 93
1.0 mi·1 min·Berwick Street
8
Continue on PA 93
3.8 mi·4 min·East Broad Street
9
Continue on PA 93; PA 924
0.5 mi·39 sec·North Broad Street
10
Turn straight onto PA 93
2.3 mi·3 min·Susquehanna Boulevard
11
Continue on PA 93
0.2 mi·31 sec·Valmont Parkway
12
Continue on PA 93
3.7 mi·7 min·State Route 93
13
Continue on PA 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Berwick Hazleton Highway
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
15
Merge onto I 80
236 mi·4 hr 14 min·Keystone Shortway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
17
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
19
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Nesquehoning to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. The 236.1-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway is your longest continuous driving segment, so plan your fuel and break needs accordingly before hitting that portion. Be mindful of the 'turn-heavy local drive' character, especially as you get closer to Erie, and keep an eye on your navigation to ensure smooth transitions between road types. The estimated $54 fuel cost is a helpful budget point for planning.
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 164.2 miles from Nesquehoning, PA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.1 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 72 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.2 miles or 3h 7m 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
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 Nesquehoning, 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 Nesquehoning, PA
This is one driving day of about 328.5 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Nesquehoning, 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 236.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 328.1 — 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|US 209 / East Catawissa Street
Turn right onto US 209 / East Catawissa Street
Navigation decision point
4
259 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 79 North: Erie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 79 North: Erie
6
325.5 mi into trip|~6h 1m 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
325.8 mi into trip|~6h 2m 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
328.1 mi into trip|~6h 6m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.46 one way
$108.92 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.65
$119.29
premium
$4.93
$63.71
$127.42
diesel
$5.61
$72.53
$145.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.6
1
$34.49
$15.77
Efficient EV
82.1
0
$28.74
$13.14
EV Truck/SUV
131.4
1
$45.99
$21.02
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Nesquehoning, PA
Morning
in Nesquehoning on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
7:52 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 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 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a notable 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. While 21% of the route is highway, much of your time will be spent on roads that require more active navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 236.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of more consistent travel before transitioning to other road types. This means you'll experience a mix of conditions, from potentially faster highway segments to more winding and varied local roads as you approach your destination.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.1 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 US 209 / East Catawissa Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 209 / East Catawissa Street): Navigation decision point; at 259 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 325.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 236.1 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 209 / East Catawissa Street): Navigation decision point; at 259 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 325.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 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.
