Trip from Belfast, PA to Erie, PA

Drive Time

6h 51m

Distance

369.5 mi

595 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$61

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 40m ★
6 AM
6h 52m
8 AM
7h 15m
10 AM
7h 0m
12 PM
6h 58m
3 PM
7h 1m
5 PM
7h 14m
8 PM
6h 45m

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

Downtown Belfast, PA, PA

Belfast, PA

Jonathan Borba

Trip Overview

The drive from Belfast, PA to Erie, PA covers 369.5 miles and takes about 6h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 79, PA 33 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 282.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.14 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

184.7 miles from Belfast, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 51m drive with frequent turns across 369.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 282.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

1,911 ft 523 ft

Total Climb

3,529 ft

Total Descent

3,401 ft

Highest Point

1,911 ft

~30.8 mi in

Elevation Range

1,388 ft

Notable High Points

1,911 ft at ~30.8 miles +591 ft prominence

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Belfast Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 369.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Belfast Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.1 miles (PA 33): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Belfast Road

Turn sharp right onto Belfast Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

8
14.1 mi into trip | ~19m in | PA 33

Keep slight left at fork onto PA 33 toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
6
17.2 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Hazleton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
6
366.5 mi into trip | ~6h 44m 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
369 mi into trip | ~6h 50m in | State Street

Turn left onto State Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 282.4 mi 5h 8m
I 79 65.8 mi 1h 10m
PA 33 16.8 mi 22m
West 12th Street 2.3 mi 4m
State Street 0.4 mi 1m
Belfast Road 0.1 mi <1m
Henry Road 0.1 mi <1m
Sullivan Trail <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 282.4 mi, about 5h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Sullivan Trail

83 ft · 7 sec · Sullivan Trail
2

Turn sharp right onto Belfast Road

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Belfast Road
3

Turn slight left onto Henry Road

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Henry Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
5

Merge onto PA 33

14 mi · 18 min · PA 33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto PA 33

3.1 mi · 4 min · PA 33
Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton Use the left lane.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto I 80

282 mi · 5 hr 8 min · Keystone Shortway
9

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
10

Merge onto I 79

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 79
11

Take the exit

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

Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290

2.3 mi · 4 min · West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Turn left onto State Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · State Street
Use the left lane.
14

Arrive at destination

State Street

Trip Plan

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 184.7 miles from Belfast, PA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 282.4 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 81 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 184.7 miles or 3h 26m 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 43m

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 Belfast, 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 Belfast, PA

This is one driving day of about 369.5 miles and 6h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Belfast, 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 282.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 184.7 mi from Belfast, PA · 3h 26m into the drive

Downtown Jamestown, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jamestown, NY

185 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

Syracuse, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jamestown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 184.7 miles from Belfast, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 282.4 miles.

Arriving in Erie, PA

The final approach into Erie, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Erie, PA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$61.14 one way

$122.28 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 129 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $66.90 $133.81
premium $4.92 $71.60 $143.20
diesel $5.64 $82.09 $164.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$61

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$86–$111

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 129.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 110.9 1 $38.80 $17.74
Efficient EV 92.4 1 $32.33 $14.78
EV Truck/SUV 147.8 1 $51.73 $23.65

Gas CO2

129 kg

EV CO2

43 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Belfast, PA

Evening in Belfast on Sunday

Local time

6:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Erie, PA

Evening in Erie on Sunday

Local time

6:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

11 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 51m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Belfast, PA to Erie, PA covers 369.5 miles and takes about 6h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 79, PA 33. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 184.7 miles from Belfast, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 369.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Belfast Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.1 miles (PA 33): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Belfast, PA to Erie, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 523 ft to 1,911 ft elevation with about 3,529 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Erie, PA to Belfast, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

364.4 mi 6h 52m

Explore more options from Belfast, PA or browse trips ending in Erie, PA.

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