Origin
Clifton, PA
Night in Clifton on Friday
Local time
11:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
137.9 mi
222 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 6m
★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, PA
Boys in Bristol Photography
Trip Overview
The drive from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA covers 137.9 miles and takes about 2h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on McMurray Road, Lesnett Road, Bank Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
69 miles from Clifton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
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 15m. Total distance: 137.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 15m drive with frequent turns across 137.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
McMurray Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA is easy. At 2h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| McMurray Road | — | — |
| Lesnett Road | — | — |
| Bank Street | — | — |
| Dewey Avenue | — | — |
| Station Street | — | — |
| Washington Avenue | — | — |
| Washington Pike | — | — |
| I 79 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
McMurray Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on the route
272 ft
·
22 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto McMurray Road
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
McMurray Road
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Lesnett Road
187 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lesnett Road
4
Exit the roundabout onto Lesnett Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Lesnett Road
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bank Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bank Street
6
Turn right onto Dewey Avenue
417 ft
·
16 sec
·
Dewey Avenue
7
At the end of the road, turn left onto Station Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Station Street
8
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Washington Avenue
9
Continue on Washington Pike
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Pike
10
Take the ramp left toward I 79: Erie, Washington
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 79: Erie, Washington
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 79 North: Erie
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
I 79 North: Erie
12
Merge slight left onto Raymond P Shafer Highway
128 mi
·
2 hr 23 min
·
Raymond P Shafer Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
14
Turn right onto West 12th Street
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
15
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 69 miles from Clifton, PA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
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 Clifton, 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 Clifton, PA
This is one driving day of about 137.9 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Clifton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69 mi from Clifton, PA · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69 miles from Clifton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.86 one way
$45.72 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $25.04 | $50.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $26.74 | $53.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.45 | $60.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.4 | 0 | $14.48 | $6.62 |
| Efficient EV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.07 | $5.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.31 | $8.83 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Night in Erie on Friday
Local time
11:04 PM
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
9 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
2h 15m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA covers 137.9 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are McMurray Road, Lesnett Road, Bank Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69 miles from Clifton, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA is easy. At 2h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Clifton, PA to Erie, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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