Oakwood, PA to Erie, PA is 88.7 miles and takes about 1h 54m via I 79, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward path from one point to another. Given its relatively short distance and predominantly highway profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll find the drive efficient, making it a practical choice for getting from Oakwood to Erie without significant detours or time commitments. Expect a fuel cost of around $14 for this segment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.3 miles from Oakwood, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
61.4 mi
1h 6m
Mercer-New Wilmington Road
7.8 mi
11m
Franklin Road
4.4 mi
6m
Beaver Valley Expressway
3.4 mi
4m
PA 158
2.4 mi
4m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Glen Road
1.1 mi
2m
Wilmington Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 61.4 mi, about 1h 6m
Traffic on I-79
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~771 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,051
Quietest
2 AM
~47 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Oakwood, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Avalon Drive
468 ft·25 sec·Avalon Drive
2
Turn left onto Burns Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Burns Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Lower Idlewild Drive
0.2 mi·58 sec·Lower Idlewild Drive
4
Turn right onto US 224
0.3 mi·30 sec·West State Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
6
Merge onto I 376; US 422
3.4 mi·4 min·Beaver Valley Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward PA 18
8
Turn right onto Mitchell Road
460 ft·10 sec·Mitchell Road
9
Turn left onto Glen Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Glen Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto PA 18
0.8 mi·1 min·Wilmington Road
11
Turn right onto PA 158
2.4 mi·4 min·PA 158
12
Turn right onto Beechwood Road
0.2 mi·44 sec·Beechwood Road
13
Turn left onto PA 956
0.8 mi·1 min·South Market Street
14
Continue on PA 158
7.8 mi·11 min·Mercer-New Wilmington Road
15
Continue on PA 158
0.7 mi·1 min·South Shenango Street
16
Turn right onto West Butler Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·West Butler Street
17
Turn left onto US 19
0.3 mi·47 sec·South Erie Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 62
0.4 mi·36 sec·Franklin Street
Use the slight right / right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62
4.4 mi·6 min·Franklin Road
Toward US 62 North: Franklin
20
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
21
Merge onto I 79
61 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 79
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
23
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under two hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You could leave Oakwood in the morning and arrive in Erie with plenty of time to spare for activities. Since there are no specific stops recommended in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel ready. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $14, it’s always wise to fill up before you leave or when you see a convenient station along I 79, especially since the longest stretch without a planned stop is over 60 miles.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.3 miles from Oakwood, PA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.4 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 20 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.3 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
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 Oakwood, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oakwood, PA
This is one driving day of about 88.7 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Oakwood, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 79 for about 61.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 88.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Burns Street
Turn left onto Burns Street
Navigation decision point
6
18.8 mi into trip|~32m in|US 19 / South Erie Street
Turn left onto US 19 / South Erie Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
19.1 mi into trip|~32m 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.
6
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.47 one way
$28.94 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$15.91
$31.83
premium
$4.86
$16.98
$33.96
diesel
$5.40
$18.87
$37.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.31
$4.26
Efficient EV
22.2
0
$7.76
$3.55
EV Truck/SUV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 26, 2026
Origin
Oakwood, PA
Evening
in Oakwood on Sunday
Local time
5:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny
E 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Evening
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
5:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
NE 9 mph0% 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
15 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 54m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 88.7 miles on I 79. You'll experience a long stretch of 61.4 miles on I 79 before transitioning to Mercer-New Wilmington Road and Franklin Road. Prepare for a significant amount of time on the interstate, which generally means consistent speeds and fewer intersections until you get closer to your destination. The highway portion will likely feel like typical interstate cruising.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Mercer-New Wilmington Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Burns Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.7 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.1 miles (Burns Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (US 19 / South Erie Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (US 19; US 62 / Franklin Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 88.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 — we found about 5 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. 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.
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 0.1 miles (Burns Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (US 19 / South Erie Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (US 19; US 62 / Franklin Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
