Spanning 352.8 miles across Pennsylvania, this drive from Reiffton to Erie typically takes about 6 hours and 41 minutes. While it is technically possible to complete this journey in a single day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. You should budget roughly $58 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast locations. Because the route involves a mix of transit styles, it functions best as a focused day trip for those comfortable with a full day of driving. Whether you are heading toward the lake or back toward the state's interior, having a clear plan for your time on the road will keep the travel manageable.
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
176.4 miles from Reiffton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
204 mi
3h 39m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Pottsville Pike
14.4 mi
18m
Locust Gap Highway
11.5 mi
13m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
South Market Street
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
Continental Boulevard
3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 204 mi, about 3h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reiffton, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on East 35th Street
71 ft·5 sec·East 35th Street
2
Turn right onto East 36th Street
300 ft·17 sec·East 36th Street
3
Turn right onto US 422 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·Perkiomen Avenue
4
Continue on US 422 Business
0.5 mi·43 sec·Howard Boulevard
5
Continue on US 422 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Mineral Spring Road
6
Turn slight right onto US 422 Business
0.3 mi·29 sec·Perkiomen Avenue
7
Continue on US 422 Business Alternate
0.6 mi·1 min·Penn Street
8
Turn right onto US 222 BUS
0.5 mi·55 sec·North 5th Street
9
Turn slight left onto PA 61
3.0 mi·4 min·Centre Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on PA 61
4.7 mi·6 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·South Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on PA 61
3.2 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on PA 61
0.6 mi·43 sec·Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on PA 61
2.3 mi·2 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·19 sec·South 4th Street
16
Continue on PA 61
4.2 mi·5 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
19
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
20
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
21
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mauch Chunk Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Centre Street
23
Turn left onto US 209
2.3 mi·4 min·West Market Street
24
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi·2 min·Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi·1 min·East Sunbury Street
26
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi·11 min·Sunbury Road
27
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
28
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi·43 sec·Locust Gap Highway
29
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi·13 min·Locust Gap Highway
30
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·South Market Street
31
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi·45 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
32
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
35
Merge onto I 80
204 mi·3 hr 39 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
To keep your energy levels consistent, plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 352.8-mile trek. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially since the technical nature of the local roads requires extra focus compared to a standard interstate cruise. Because you will be navigating diverse road types, keep your fuel tank topped off before leaving the more populated areas to ensure you don't encounter any range anxiety during the longer 204-mile stretch. Since this trip is manageable in one day, use your flexibility to adjust your pace if weather or traffic conditions on the Keystone Shortway slow your progress. Prioritize comfort and hydration to handle the duration of the drive successfully.
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 176.4 miles from Reiffton, PA, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204 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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.4 miles or 3h 27m 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 32m
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 Reiffton, 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 Reiffton, PA
This is one driving day of about 352.8 miles and 6h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Reiffton, 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 204 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 352.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East 36th Street
Turn right onto East 36th Street
Navigation decision point
5
37.2 mi into trip|~49m in|US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Turn left onto US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Navigation decision point
5
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
349.8 mi into trip|~6h 34m 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
352.3 mi into trip|~6h 39m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.49 one way
$116.98 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$64.06
$128.12
premium
$4.93
$68.42
$136.84
diesel
$5.61
$77.89
$155.79
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Centre Turnpike
(10.6 mi)$0.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.8
1
$37.04
$16.93
Efficient EV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
EV Truck/SUV
141.1
1
$49.39
$22.58
Gas CO2
123 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Reiffton, PA
Night
in Reiffton on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Night
in Erie on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Wellsville, NY
176 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
15 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 41m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 48.7
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience as you transition from technical local roads to more open highway stretches. With only 23% of the trip consisting of highway travel, the route feels like a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. You will navigate a significant 204-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, which serves as the primary backbone of your journey. Along the way, you will also utilize I-79 and the Pottsville Pike to navigate the terrain. This blend of road types means you will need to stay alert, as the character of the pavement shifts frequently between high-speed transit and more demanding local segments.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 204 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 36th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 352.8 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (East 36th Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.2 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 75.4 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 41m. Total distance: 352.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 41m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Centre Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 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 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 (East 36th Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.2 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 75.4 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Valley Forge National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 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.
