This 293.1-mile journey from Shamokin, PA, to Erie, PA, will take you approximately 5 hours and 23 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a straightforward drive through Pennsylvania. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $49. You'll primarily be on the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a smaller portion on South Market Street. This route remains within the Northeast region, offering a consistent travel experience across the state. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
146.5 miles from Shamokin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
204 mi
3h 39m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
South Market Street
8.3 mi
9m
North 6th Street
4.8 mi
5m
Continental Boulevard
3 mi
3m
PA 487
2.3 mi
3m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 204 mi, about 3h 39m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,074 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,411
Quietest
2 AM
~183 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 Shamokin, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 125
57 ft·9 sec·North Market Street
2
Turn left onto West Arch Street
17 ft·1 sec·West Arch Street
3
Turn slight left onto West Lincoln Street
74 ft·4 sec·West Lincoln Street
4
Turn left onto PA 125
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Market Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto PA 61
509 ft·6 sec·West Sunbury Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·North 6th Street
7
Turn right onto PA 487
2.3 mi·3 min·PA 487
8
Turn left onto PA 54
8.3 mi·9 min·South Market Street
9
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi·45 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
13
Merge onto I 80
204 mi·3 hr 39 min·Keystone Shortway
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
15
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
17
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 23-minute drive, consider leaving in the morning to allow ample time for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway, you can plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into potentially longer stretches between services. This route is easily manageable in a single day, so you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best. A practical tip is to ensure your vehicle is well-maintained before embarking, given the varied road conditions.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 146.5 miles from Shamokin, PA, or about 2h 41m 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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.5 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
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 Shamokin, 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 Shamokin, PA
This is one driving day of about 293.1 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Shamokin, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 292.6 — 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|West Arch Street
Turn left onto West Arch Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 61 / West Sunbury Street
At end of road, turn left onto PA 61 / West Sunbury Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
15.7 mi into trip|~19m 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
290.1 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
292.6 mi into trip|~5h 21m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.73 one way
$93.47 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$51.72
$103.44
premium
$4.81
$55.48
$110.96
diesel
$4.80
$55.34
$110.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.9
1
$30.78
$14.07
Efficient EV
73.3
0
$25.65
$11.72
EV Truck/SUV
117.2
1
$41.03
$18.76
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Shamokin, PA
Late night
in Shamokin on Monday
Local time
2:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Smoke
S 3 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Monday
Local time
2:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Smoke
SE 1 to 12 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
5 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
5h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive with a significant portion, 77%, being non-highway. While there's a substantial 204-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, the overall character shifts between faster highway sections and more winding local roads. This means you'll experience a variety of driving conditions, moving from open highway to more engaged, turn-filled segments as you progress. The drive is not a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a dynamic route that keeps you connected to the local landscape.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Arch Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 293.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 (West Arch Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (PA 61 / West Sunbury Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 15.7 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 293.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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.
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 (West Arch Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (PA 61 / West Sunbury Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 15.7 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 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.
