Ridley Park, PA to Erie, PA is 423.4 miles and takes about 7h 51m via Keystone Shortway, Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, and I 79, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region towards its northwestern corner. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll experience a mix of major highways and scenic byways. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward journey across the state with a manageable duration and cost.
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
211.7 miles from Ridley Park, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
256.6 mi
4h 37m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75 mi
1h 21m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Mid-County Expressway
19 mi
25m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Macdade Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
North Swarthmore Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 256.6 mi, about 4h 37m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,084 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,463
Quietest
2 AM
~184 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Ridley Park, PA and Erie, PA.
Exit 95Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
12
Merge onto I 80
257 mi·4 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
14
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
16
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 51m drive, consider an early morning departure from Ridley Park to maximize daylight. With only two recommended stops, you can plan them strategically to break up the 423.4 miles. The longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway is over 250 miles, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment, as services might be less frequent. Given the estimated fuel cost of $70, it's wise to factor in potential fluctuations. This trip is well-suited for a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could split it with an overnight stay.
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 211.7 miles from Ridley Park, PA, or about 3h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 256.6 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 93 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.7 miles or 3h 58m 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 43m
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 Ridley Park, 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 Ridley Park, PA
This is one driving day of about 423.4 miles and 7h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Ridley Park, 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 256.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 96.1 and 423 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
5
97 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
6
420.4 mi into trip|~7h 44m 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
420.7 mi into trip|~7h 45m 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
423 mi into trip|~7h 50m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.51 one way
$135.02 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg148 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$74.71
$149.42
premium
$4.81
$80.15
$160.29
diesel
$4.80
$79.95
$159.89
Estimated Tolls: $9.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75 mi)$9.75
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
$68
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$102–$127
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 148.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
127
1
$44.46
$20.32
Efficient EV
105.9
1
$37.05
$16.94
EV Truck/SUV
169.4
2
$59.28
$27.10
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
50 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Ridley Park, PA
Night
in Ridley Park on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Smoke
N 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Night
in Erie on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
N 1 to 7 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
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
7h 51m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 14.6
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 38% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 79, which provide faster-paced travel. However, a significant portion of your drive will be on the Keystone Shortway, a route known for its scenic qualities and less urban feel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 256.6 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a good opportunity to settle in and enjoy the passing scenery without frequent exits.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 256.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 96.1 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 423.4 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 96.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 420.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,617 ft89 ft
Total Climb
1,644 ft
Total Descent
1,081 ft
Highest Point
1,617 ft
~241.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,528 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ridley Park, PA to Erie, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Pocono along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 51m. Total distance: 423.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 51m 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 256.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.75 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania 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.
Yes — we found about 40 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 40 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 96.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 420.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 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.
