Traveling from Summit Hill to Erie covers 332.3 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 26 minutes of driving time. Since this trek is entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you will remain in a familiar geographic context throughout your journey. With a total estimated fuel cost of $55, this route is manageable as a single-day trip if you are comfortable with a full day behind the wheel. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. While the duration is substantial, the lack of highway travel means you will experience a very different pace than a typical interstate haul.
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
166 miles from Summit Hill, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
236.1 mi
4h 14m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
I 81
7 mi
8m
Pine Street
5.3 mi
8m
State Route 93
3.7 mi
7m
East Water Street
2.3 mi
3m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
East Broad Street
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 236.1 mi, about 4h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Summit Hill, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on East Ludlow Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·East Ludlow Street
2
Turn left onto PA 902
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Pine Street
3
Continue on PA 902
0.4 mi·38 sec·East North Street
4
Continue on PA 902
0.5 mi·1 min·Spring Garden Street
5
Turn left onto US 209
1.0 mi·2 min·East Patterson Street
6
Continue on US 209
2.3 mi·3 min·East Water Street
7
Continue on US 209
2.0 mi·4 min·East Broad Street
8
Turn right onto Pine Street
5.3 mi·8 min·Pine Street
9
Continue on PA 309
1.0 mi·1 min·Mile Hill Road
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto I 81
7.0 mi·8 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward PA 93: West Hazleton
14
Keep slight left at fork
294 ft·9 sec
15
Turn left onto PA 93
369 ft·14 sec·Valmont Parkway
16
Continue on PA 93
3.7 mi·7 min·State Route 93
17
Continue on PA 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Berwick Hazleton Highway
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
19
Merge onto I 80
236 mi·4 hr 14 min·Keystone Shortway
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
21
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
23
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 332.3-mile trip effectively, aim to depart early in the morning to account for the slower pace of local roads. Since you are not utilizing high-speed highways, your travel time can be sensitive to local traffic patterns, so check your navigation before leaving. Budgeting $55 for fuel should cover your needs, but keeping an eye on your gauge while navigating local segments is a smart safety measure. Planning at least one meaningful stop is essential to maintain your focus given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Use the flexibility of this non-highway path to pull over whenever you need a quick rest, as the local roads allow for easier access to stops than restricted-access interstates.
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 166 miles from Summit Hill, PA, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.1 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 73 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166 miles or 3h 14m 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 9m
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 Summit Hill, 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 Summit Hill, PA
This is one driving day of about 331.9 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Summit Hill, 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 236.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 331.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 902 / North Pine Street
Turn left onto PA 902 / North Pine Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.5 mi into trip|~35m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
328.9 mi into trip|~6h 10m 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
329.2 mi into trip|~6h 11m 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
331.5 mi into trip|~6h 16m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.02 one way
$110.05 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$60.26
$120.53
premium
$4.93
$64.37
$128.74
diesel
$5.61
$73.28
$146.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.6
1
$34.85
$15.93
Efficient EV
83
0
$29.04
$13.28
EV Truck/SUV
132.8
1
$46.47
$21.24
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Summit Hill, PA
Morning
in Summit Hill on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
S 16 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
9 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
6h 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will rely on local thoroughfares like North Pine Street, East North Street, and Spring Garden Street to navigate the distance. Because you are avoiding major high-speed corridors, the road demands your full attention and offers a more technical driving experience. This setup ensures that your trip will feel less like a rapid transit between two points and more like an immersive tour of the local landscape. Be prepared for frequent turns and a consistent, steady pace as you wind your way toward the destination.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.1 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near PA 902 / North Pine 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 331.9 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.2 miles (PA 902 / North Pine Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 328.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 331.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.1 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.
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: at 0.2 miles (PA 902 / North Pine Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 328.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 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.
