Origin
Cressona, PA
Evening in Cressona on Wednesday
Local time
8:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cressona, PA to Erie, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 55m
Distance
317.6 mi
511 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 42m
★
6 AM
5h 55m
8 AM
6h 21m
10 AM
6h 4m
12 PM
6h 2m
3 PM
6h 6m
5 PM
6h 20m
8 PM
5h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cressona, PA
Haneul Trac
Trip Overview
This 317.6-mile journey from Cressona, PA to Erie, PA will take approximately 5 hours and 55 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Keystone Shortway and I-79, with a segment on Locust Gap Highway, this route covers 21% highway driving. With a fuel cost estimated at $53 and a single recommended stop, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, offering a direct path across Pennsylvania. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the journey contained within familiar territory.
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
158.8 miles from Cressona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a route that's less about monotonous interstate cruising and more about engaging with the landscape. With only 21% of the drive on highways, you'll experience a turn-heavy local drive feel. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 204 miles along the Keystone Shortway. As you progress, the road will likely transition between faster highway segments and more varied local road conditions, requiring your attention throughout the 5 hour and 55 minute journey.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 204 miles.
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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near PA 183 / Chestnut Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 317.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (PA 183 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 314.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
PA 183 / Chestnut Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 183 / Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
40.2 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
314.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 48m 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
314.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 48m 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
317.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 53m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 204 mi | 3h 39m |
| I 79 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| Locust Gap Highway | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| South Market Street | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Gordon Nagle Trail | 4 mi | 6m |
| Continental Boulevard | 3 mi | 3m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 204 mi, about 3h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cressona, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Zerbe Street
74 ft
·
3 sec
·
Zerbe Street
2
Continue on Front Street
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Front Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto PA 183
224 ft
·
5 sec
·
Chestnut Street
4
Continue on PA 183
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Sillyman Street
5
Continue on PA 901
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Gordon Nagle Trail
6
Turn left onto US 209; PA 901
277 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Market Street
7
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Sunbury Street
9
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Sunbury Road
10
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
11
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
12
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Locust Gap Highway
13
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
South Market Street
14
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
18
Merge onto I 80
204 mi
·
3 hr 39 min
·
Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
20
Merge onto I 79
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 79
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
22
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 317.6-mile distance and 5 hour and 55 minute duration, departing Cressona, PA in the early morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With a fuel cost around $53, monitor your fuel levels, especially before longer stretches like the 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway. While only one stop is officially recommended, plan for additional brief breaks as needed. The turn-heavy nature of this route means you should be prepared for more frequent steering adjustments and potentially slower speeds on local road segments.
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 158.8 miles from Cressona, PA, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204 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 70 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.8 miles or 3h 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 49m
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 Cressona, 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 Cressona, PA
This is one driving day of about 317.6 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Cressona, 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 204 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158.8 mi from Cressona, PA · 3h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.8 miles from Cressona, 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 204 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
$52.65 one way
$105.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $57.67 | $115.34 |
| premium | $4.93 | $61.59 | $123.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $70.12 | $140.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.3 | 1 | $33.35 | $15.24 |
| Efficient EV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.79 | $12.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127 | 1 | $44.46 | $20.33 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Evening in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
8:41 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
15 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
5h 55m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cressona, PA to Erie, PA covers 317.6 miles and takes about 5h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 79, Locust Gap Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158.8 miles from Cressona, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 317.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 0.3 miles (PA 183 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 314.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Cressona, PA to Erie, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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