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Trip from Swissvale, PA to Erie, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 38m

Distance

135.1 mi

217 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 28m ★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Swissvale, PA, PA

Swissvale, PA

Haneul Trac

Downtown Erie, PA, PA

Erie, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 135.1-mile drive from Swissvale, PA, to Erie, PA, is an efficient Northeast corridor trip that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 38 minutes on the road, with a projected fuel cost of around $22. The journey is overwhelmingly highway-focused, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two Pennsylvania locations. Given its manageable length and primarily interstate nature, this route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and stop planning.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

67.6 miles from Swissvale, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 79 111.2 mi 2h
I 279 13.2 mi 17m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East 6.2 mi 8m
West 12th Street 2.3 mi 4m
South Braddock Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
State Street 0.4 mi 1m
Westmoreland Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Columbia Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 79 — 111.2 mi, about 2h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Swissvale, PA and Erie, PA.

1

Start on Columbia Avenue

59 ft · 6 sec · Columbia Avenue
2

Turn left onto Westmoreland Avenue

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Westmoreland Avenue
3

At end of road, turn right onto Green Belt

512 ft · 21 sec · South Braddock Avenue
4

Continue on South Braddock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Braddock Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 376 West: Pittsburgh
6

Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30

6.2 mi · 8 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 70C Toward I 279 North: Fort Duquesne Bridge, North Shore Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on I 279

13 mi · 17 min · I 279
9

Merge onto I 79

111 mi · 2 hr · I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 49 sec
Exit 183A Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
11

Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290

2.3 mi · 4 min · West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Turn left onto State Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · State Street
Use the left lane.
13

Arrive at destination

State Street

Trip Plan

With a duration of under 3 hours, this route offers considerable flexibility for when you depart. Consider leaving early to avoid potential traffic, especially if you're traveling on a weekday. You'll encounter one designated stop on the route, but with the drive being so short, you can easily push through to your destination if needed. The longest stretch is over 111 miles on I-79, so be sure to fuel up before departing Swissvale to comfortably cover this distance and reach Erie without needing to search for a gas station mid-journey.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.6 miles from Swissvale, PA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.2 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 30 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.6 miles or 1h 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 8m

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 Swissvale, 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 Swissvale, PA

This is one driving day of about 135.1 miles and 2h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Swissvale, 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 I 79 for about 111.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

borough in counties Lawrence, and Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ellwood City, PA

68 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.

Popular next leg

Ellwood City, PA to Erie, PA

100.4 mi · 1h 59m

Pacing Suggestions

Valencia, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ellwood City, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.6 miles from Swissvale, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 9.7

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+14122632142

Visit website

Valenza Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Meadville, Pennsylvania

1 mi

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1.6 mi

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 9.7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+14122632142

Visit website

Valenza Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 96.5

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18147241222

Visit website

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 9.7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: 10:30 am–12 pm

+14122611599

Visit website

Jodi B's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+14128233340

Kiku Japanese Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 9.7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: 12–2 pm

+14127653200

Visit website

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Homestead, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+14124611469

Visit website

Grand Concourse

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Expensive mile 9.7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+14122611717

Visit website

J & J's Family Restaurant & Catering

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 9.7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14123811822

EVgo Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Autel Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 9.7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Cochran Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 9.7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour

West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Bicentennial Tower

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 135.1

Erie, Pennsylvania

Hours: Closed

+18144347376

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 134.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
7.4 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 279 North: Fort Duquesne Bridge, North Shore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 70C Toward I 279 North: Fort Duquesne Bridge, North...
6
132.1 mi into trip | ~2h 31m 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
134.7 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in | State Street

Turn left onto State Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.40 one way

$44.80 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $24.53 $49.06
premium $4.93 $26.20 $52.40
diesel $5.61 $29.83 $59.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.5 0 $14.19 $6.48
Efficient EV 33.8 0 $11.82 $5.40
EV Truck/SUV 54 0 $18.91 $8.65

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 14, 2026

Origin

Swissvale, PA

Morning in Swissvale on Sunday

Local time

11:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Erie, PA

Morning in Erie on Sunday

Local time

11:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

W 14 mph 44% chance Live 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

8 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

2h 38m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 97% of the 135.1 miles utilizing major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I-79, I-279, and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 111.2 miles on I-79, indicating long periods of consistent highway travel. While this offers speed and efficiency, be prepared for a consistent driving experience characteristic of interstate corridors.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.2 mi on I 79.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and I 279. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 38m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.2 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Swissvale, PA to Erie, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Shore along the way.

Shore

7.4 mi in | ~12m

About the Cities

Arriving in Erie, PA

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 135.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 111.2 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Green Belt / South Braddock Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.2 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Erie, PA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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