Spanning 326.9 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip connects Wilkes-Barre in the Northeast to the shores of Erie. Expect to spend about 6 hours and 2 minutes behind the wheel, making it a feasible, albeit long, one-day journey. You should budget approximately $54 for fuel to cover the distance. While the trek is manageable in a single stint, its duration suggests you might appreciate at least one planned stop to break up the drive. This route moves you from the state's eastern edge toward the Great Lakes region, offering a practical way to traverse the commonwealth.
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
163.5 miles from Wilkes-Barre, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
239.4 mi
4h 18m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
I 81
14.4 mi
16m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Hazle Street
1 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Blackman Street
0.6 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 239.4 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilkes-Barre, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Public Square
0.1 mi·26 sec·Public Square
2
Continue on South Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Hazle Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Hazle Street
4
Turn left onto Blackman Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Blackman Street
5
Turn right onto PA 309
0.2 mi·29 sec·Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
14 mi·16 min·I 81
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
9
Merge onto I 80
239 mi·4 hr 18 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
11
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
13
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the six-hour duration, departing early in the morning is your best bet to reach Erie before the day is out. Since you have 326.9 miles to cover, plan your one necessary stop strategically to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the local portions can be more fatiguing than straight highway driving, so adjust your pace accordingly. Because the Keystone Shortway makes up the bulk of your journey, ensure your vehicle is prepped for a long, steady haul. Staying flexible with your departure time will help you avoid peak traffic periods, ensuring a smoother transition between the regional segments of the state.
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 163.5 miles from Wilkes-Barre, PA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.4 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 72 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 163.5 miles or 3h 2m 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 55m
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 Wilkes-Barre, 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA
This is one driving day of about 326.9 miles and 6h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Wilkes-Barre, 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 239.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.3 and 326.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.3 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 151B
Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
4
257.5 mi into trip|~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 79 North: Erie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 79 North: Erie
6
323.9 mi into trip|~5h 55m 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
324.2 mi into trip|~5h 56m 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
326.5 mi into trip|~6h 1m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.20 one way
$108.39 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.36
$118.71
premium
$4.93
$63.40
$126.80
diesel
$5.61
$72.18
$144.35
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: 114.4 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
98.1
1
$34.32
$15.69
Efficient EV
81.7
0
$28.60
$13.08
EV Truck/SUV
130.8
1
$45.77
$20.92
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Morning
in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 2m 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?
Prepare for a drive with a distinct personality, as it transitions from fast-paced interstates to more technical, turn-heavy local segments. While 25% of your time is spent on major highways like I-81 and I-79, the remainder demands more focus due to the winding nature of the roads. You will spend a significant chunk of your travel—239.4 miles—navigating the Keystone Shortway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip. The shift between these high-speed sections and the curvier local roads requires you to stay alert, as the driving environment changes considerably from start to finish.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 2m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 257.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 323.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Wilkes-Barre (the last part is variously pronounced "Berry", "Bury", "Bare", or "Berrah" by locals, and "Barry" or "Barr" by others) is a city of 41,000 people (2018) in Northeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles southwest of Scranton. The city is named for John Wilkes and Isaac Barre, both of whom were members of the British Parliament who opposed royal rule of the colonies. Although the city is named after them, neither one ever set foot in North America.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 2m. Total distance: 326.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.4 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 257.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 323.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 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.
