Origin
Zion, PA
Late night in Zion on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zion, 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
3h 56m
Distance
213.6 mi
344 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Zion, PA
Haneul Trac
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Zion, PA to Erie, PA is 213.6 miles and takes about 3 hours 56 minutes via Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region towards the northwestern part of the state. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway speeds with potentially slower sections. With only one recommended stop and a duration under 4 hours, this is a straightforward journey suitable for a single day of travel.
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
106.8 miles from Zion, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 140.6 mi | 2h 30m |
| I 79 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| Forest Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Jacksonville Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Zion Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 140.6 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zion, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 550
24 ft
·
2 sec
·
Zion Road
2
Turn right onto Forest Avenue
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Forest Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 220; PA 26
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Jacksonville Road
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 80 West: DuBois
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 80; US 220 Alternate
141 mi
·
2 hr 30 min
·
Keystone Shortway
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
7
Merge onto I 79
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 79
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
9
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 4 hours, leaving Zion, PA in the morning provides ample time to reach Erie, PA without feeling rushed. You'll have flexibility in planning your single recommended stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 140.6-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. The $35 fuel estimate suggests this is an economical trip. This drive is well-suited for a single-day adventure, allowing you to enjoy the journey without the need for an overnight stay.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.8 miles from Zion, PA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.6 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 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.8 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
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 Zion, 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 Zion, PA
This is one driving day of about 213.6 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Zion, 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 140.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 106.8 miles from Zion, 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 140.6 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 213.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Navigation decision point
7
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: DuBois
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 80 West: DuBois
6
210.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 49m 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
210.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m 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
213.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.41 one way
$70.82 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $38.78 | $77.57 |
| premium | $4.93 | $41.42 | $82.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.16 | $94.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.43 | $10.25 |
| Efficient EV | 53.4 | 0 | $18.69 | $8.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.4 | 1 | $29.90 | $13.67 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph
83% 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
23 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
3h 56m 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 route offers a mixed drive, with 31% of it being highway. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Keystone Shortway, covering a longest uninterrupted stretch of 140.6 miles. As you transition to I-79 and then Forest Avenue, the character of the drive may change, potentially introducing more local traffic or varied speed limits. It's not a monotonous interstate journey but rather a blend of faster highway segments and potentially more varied road conditions as you approach your destination.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 213.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 3.1 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 210.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3h 56m. Total distance: 213.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.6 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.
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 3.1 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 210.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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