Origin
Spry, PA
Late night in Spry on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 27m
Distance
325.1 mi
523 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spry, PA
Haneul Trac
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
This 325.1-mile journey from Spry, PA, to Erie, PA, is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 6 hours and 27 minutes. You'll be spending about 41% of your time on highways, with the majority of your drive navigating the Keystone Shortway and I-79. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $54, making it a budget-friendly option for a single-day adventure. This route is entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a consistent feel throughout. Given the duration, it's definitely manageable as a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
162.5 miles from Spry, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 102.7 mi | 1h 50m |
| I 79 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| South Cameron Street | 55 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 83 | 26.7 mi | 33m |
| US 22 | 24.5 mi | 32m |
| Mount Nittany Expressway | 17.5 mi | 21m |
| Port Matilda Highway | 10.1 mi | 14m |
| Philipsburg Bigler Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Spry, PA and Erie, PA.
Start on East Church Street
Turn right onto PA 74
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 83
Take the exit
Turn right onto Paxton Street
Turn left onto PA 230
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
Continue on US 322
Continue on US 322
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
Continue on US 322; PA 53
Continue on US 322
Continue on US 322
Turn right onto PA 970
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto I 79
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
Turn left onto State Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 6-hour and 27-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Spry, PA, to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With 325.1 miles to cover, planning for one stop around the halfway point is advisable for fuel and a quick break. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 102.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but staying aware of I-79's traffic patterns closer to Erie can help you arrive smoothly.
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.
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 72 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.5 miles or 3h 28m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Erie, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Spry, 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 Spry, PA
This is one driving day of about 325.1 miles and 6h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
163 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 162.5 miles from Spry, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 83.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto PA 74 / South Queen Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Capitol, 2nd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Paxton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto PA 230 / South Cameron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$53.90 one way
$107.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $59.03 | $118.06 |
| premium | $4.93 | $63.05 | $126.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.78 | $143.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.5 | 1 | $34.14 | $15.60 |
| Efficient EV | 81.3 | 0 | $28.45 | $13.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 130 | 1 | $45.51 | $20.81 |
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Spry on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Erie on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
71°F
Clearfield, PA
163 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 41% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 102.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which offers a more open road feel. The drive progresses through various road types, starting with local roads and transitioning into faster highway segments as you head north. The use of I-79 in the latter half provides a more direct and often faster pace, creating a dynamic shift in the driving character as you cover the distance.
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 early in the drive near PA 74 / South Queen Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 325.1 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: near the start (PA 74 / South Queen Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles (Paxton Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,768 ft
Total Descent
1,832 ft
Highest Point
1,948 ft
~162.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,523 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Spry, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Capitol and State College.
Capitol
State College
Erie is a city of about 100,000 in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's only lake port on the Great Lakes (Lake Erie).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 325.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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