Origin
Willow Street, PA
Morning in Willow Street on Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willow Street, PA to Erie, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 46m
Distance
337.8 mi
544 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 35m
★
6 AM
6h 47m
8 AM
7h 11m
10 AM
6h 55m
12 PM
6h 53m
3 PM
6h 56m
5 PM
7h 9m
8 PM
6h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Willow Street, PA to Erie, PA is 337.8 miles and takes about 6h 46m via Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you across Pennsylvania, staying within the Northeast region, and is a solid choice for a single-day trip. You'll encounter a mixed driving profile, so be prepared for varying road conditions and speeds. With only one recommended stop and a straightforward route, this journey is quite manageable for most drivers.
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
168.9 miles from Willow Street, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 41m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 102.7 mi | 1h 50m |
| I 79 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| US 322 | 54.4 mi | 1h 7m |
| PA 283 | 28.1 mi | 32m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willow Street, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on this road
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto PA 272
3.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Willow Street Pike
3
Continue on US 222; PA 272
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Highland Avenue
4
Continue on US 222; PA 272
1.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Queen Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272; PA 72
400 ft
·
13 sec
·
McGovern Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right onto PA 72
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
PA 72
7
Continue on Fruitville Pike
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Fruitville Pike
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
9
Merge onto PA 283
28 mi
·
32 min
·
PA 283
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 283 North: Harrisburg
11
Merge onto I 283
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 283
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 283
Exit 3B-C
Toward I 83 North, US 322
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 3B
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
14
Continue on I 83
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 83
15
Continue on US 322
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 322
Exit 51A
Toward I 81 South, US 322 West: Carlisle, State College
16
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 322
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
52 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 322
Exit 67B
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
24 mi
·
32 min
·
US 22; US 322
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College
19
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Boal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Mount Nittany Expressway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
28th Division Highway
Exit 62
Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
22
Continue on US 322
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Railroad Street
24
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
North Centre Street
25
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Front Street
26
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Philipsburg Bigler Highway
27
Continue on US 322
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Woodland Bigler Highway
28
Turn right onto PA 970
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
30
Merge onto I 80
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
Keystone Shortway
31
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
32
Merge onto I 79
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 79
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
34
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
36
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 46m estimated duration, starting your drive from Willow Street in the morning is advisable to comfortably reach Erie within daylight hours. While this trip is designed for a single day, the 102.7-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway is the longest you'll go without a major change, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before hitting longer highway segments, as services can sometimes be spaced out. A single planned stop should be sufficient for this journey, but always have a backup in mind.
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 168.9 miles from Willow Street, PA, or about 3h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 74 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.9 miles or 3h 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 5h 38m
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 Willow Street, 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 Willow Street, PA
This is one driving day of about 337.8 miles and 6h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Willow Street, 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 102.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
169 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 168.9 miles from Willow Street, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 44.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
37.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 283
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283 toward I 83 North, US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B-C
Toward I 83 North, US 322
8
38.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
44.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
44.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, Stat...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.00 one way
$112.01 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
118 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $61.34 | $122.67 |
| premium | $4.93 | $65.51 | $131.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $74.58 | $149.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.2 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 | 101.3 | 1 | $35.47 | $16.21 |
| Efficient EV | 84.5 | 0 | $29.56 | $13.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 135.1 | 1 | $47.29 | $21.62 |
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Wellsville, NY
169 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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 46m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 58.2
View on nps.gov
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...
19 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 23.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 58% of it on highways. Expect to spend a significant portion of your time on the Keystone Shortway, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 102.7 miles. As you progress, the drive transitions, so be ready for changes in road type and speed limits. The mix of highway and other roads means you'll experience both faster travel and more varied scenery along the way.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 around 5.5 miles in near US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 337.8 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: at 5.5 miles (US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Willow Street, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward State College and Lewistown.
State College
38.2 mi in
|
~54m
Lewistown
44.6 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via US 322
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 6h 46m. Total distance: 337.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 46m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 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 5.5 miles (US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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