Peach Bottom, PA to Erie, PA is 357.5 miles and takes about 7h 20m via Keystone Shortway, I-79, and US-322, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the state's northwestern corner. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. It's a manageable one-day drive if you get an early start, with a couple of planned stops to break up the 7+ hours behind the wheel.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
178.7 miles from Peach Bottom, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
102.7 mi
1h 50m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
US 322
54.4 mi
1h 7m
PA 283
28.1 mi
32m
US 22
24.5 mi
32m
Mount Nittany Expressway
17.5 mi
21m
Lancaster Pike
12.3 mi
17m
Port Matilda Highway
10.1 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,034 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,382
Quietest
2 AM
~182 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 78 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 Peach Bottom, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Edgewood Lane
346 ft·25 sec·Edgewood Lane
2
Continue on Peach Bottom Road
0.7 mi·2 min·Peach Bottom Road
3
Continue on Peach Bottom Road
3.4 mi·7 min·Peach Bottom Road
4
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272
0.5 mi·53 sec·Robert Fulton Highway
5
Continue on PA 272
12 mi·17 min·Lancaster Pike
6
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 272
0.4 mi·30 sec·Lancaster Pike
7
Continue on PA 272
6.1 mi·11 min·Willow Street Pike
8
Continue on US 222; PA 272
0.2 mi·32 sec·Highland Avenue
9
Continue on US 222; PA 272
1.9 mi·6 min·South Queen Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272; PA 72
400 ft·13 sec·McGovern Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Turn slight right onto PA 72
0.3 mi·35 sec·PA 72
12
Continue on Fruitville Pike
1.0 mi·2 min·Fruitville Pike
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
14
Merge onto PA 283
28 mi·32 min·PA 283
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 283 North: Harrisburg
16
Merge onto I 283
1.9 mi·2 min·I 283
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 283
Exit 3B-CToward I 83 North, US 322
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 3BToward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
19
Continue on I 83
3.7 mi·5 min·I 83
20
Continue on US 322
2.4 mi·3 min·US 322
Exit 51AToward I 81 South, US 322 West: Carlisle, State College
21
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 322
Exit 67A; 67BToward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
52 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 322
Exit 67BToward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State CollegeUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
24 mi·32 min·US 22; US 322
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College
24
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
18 mi·21 min·Mount Nittany Expressway
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·28th Division Highway
Exit 62Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
27
Continue on US 322
10 mi·14 min·Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
29
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Centre Street
30
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Front Street
31
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
32
Continue on US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
33
Turn right onto PA 970
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
35
Merge onto I 80
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
36
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
37
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
39
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
40
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
41
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 20m estimated drive time, starting your trip from Peach Bottom before sunrise is recommended to comfortably complete this 357.5-mile drive in one day. You'll make two stops along the way, so factor those into your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you transition to surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on the highway. The $60 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Plan your stops in advance to maximize efficiency on this route.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 178.7 miles from Peach Bottom, PA, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 79 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.7 miles or 4h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 11m
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 Peach Bottom, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Peach Bottom, PA
This is one driving day of about 357.5 miles and 7h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Peach Bottom, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 102.7 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.1 and 64.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
25.1 mi into trip|~47m in|US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
57.6 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 283
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283 toward I 83 North, US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B-C
Toward I 83 North, US 322
8
57.8 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
64.2 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
64.5 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, Stat...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.44 one way
$124.87 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$68.36
$136.72
premium
$5.20
$73.13
$146.27
diesel
$6.28
$88.33
$176.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.3
1
$37.54
$17.16
Efficient EV
89.4
1
$31.28
$14.30
EV Truck/SUV
143
1
$50.05
$22.88
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Peach Bottom, PA
Late night
in Peach Bottom on Thursday
Local time
5:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
N 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Thursday
Local time
5:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
20 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
7h 20m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 55% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 357.5 miles on faster roads like I-79. The longest stretch without a significant change in route is 102.7 miles along the Keystone Shortway. You'll transition between these higher-speed sections and more typical surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and potential for more frequent stops on the non-highway portions.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.1 miles in near US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 357.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.1 miles (US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,767 ft164 ft
Total Climb
1,772 ft
Total Descent
1,283 ft
Highest Point
1,767 ft
~178.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,603 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Peach Bottom, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward State College and Lewistown.
Lancaster is a city of around 59,000 people (2021) in Lancaster County in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is one of the oldest inland towns in the United States, and the center of an area inhabited by many members of the Amish community.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 20m. Total distance: 357.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.1 miles (US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 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.
