This 167.3-mile drive from Derry, PA to Erie, PA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 24 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I-79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a portion on the William Penn Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $28, it's an economical trip. This route stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a consistent driving experience. It's a practical choice for a day trip without the need for an overnight stop.
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
83.6 miles from Derry, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
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Drive Character
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the route on major interstates and turnpikes. You'll experience a significant stretch of 105.2 miles on I-79 without interruption, allowing for steady progress. While primarily high-speed, you'll also incorporate segments of the William Penn Highway, offering a slight variation from the interstate. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, making it ideal for covering distance quickly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 79 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Pennsylvania Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.9 miles in.
Route Complexity9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 167.3 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 29.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
29.9 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: Ohio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 76 West: Ohio
8
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, Cranberry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28
Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendal...
7
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 79 North: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 79 North: Erie
6
164.2 mi into trip|~3h 17m 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
166.8 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Derry, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Warrendale and Cranberry.
Pittsburgh
57.9 mi in|~1h 21m
Warrendale
57.9 mi in|~1h 21m
Cranberry
57.9 mi in|~1h 21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
105.2 mi
1h 53m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
27.7 mi
29m
William Penn Highway
16.6 mi
26m
PA 981
6.5 mi
11m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Industrial Boulevard
1.9 mi
3m
West 4th Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
Northern Pike
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 105.2 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derry, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on East 1st Avenue
246 ft·16 sec·East 1st Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Chestnut Street
378 ft·18 sec·South Chestnut Street
3
Turn right onto West 2nd Avenue
370 ft·23 sec·West 2nd Avenue
4
Turn left onto PA 217
0.1 mi·14 sec·Y Street
5
Turn right onto PA 217
1.9 mi·2 min·West 4th Avenue
6
Turn right onto State Route 1020
380 ft·8 sec·State Route 1020
7
Continue on New Latrobe - Derry Road
0.4 mi·39 sec·New Latrobe - Derry Road
8
Continue on Industrial Boulevard
1.9 mi·3 min·Industrial Boulevard
9
Turn right onto PA 981
6.5 mi·11 min·PA 981
10
Turn left onto US 22; US 119
17 mi·26 min·William Penn Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto Northern Pike
1.8 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto PA 48; Orange Belt
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mosside Boulevard
13
Turn right onto Daugherty Drive
183 ft·12 sec·Daugherty Drive
14
Turn right
421 ft·36 sec
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward I 76 West: OhioUse the straight lane.
17
Merge onto I 76; PATP
28 mi·29 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 28Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, CranberryUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: ErieUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 79
105 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
23
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Derry to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. With a duration of just over 3 hours, you likely won't need more than one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. The longest continuous stretch is over 100 miles on I-79, so be sure to top off your fuel before entering it. Given the relatively short distance, you have flexibility to adjust your schedule on the fly.
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 83.6 miles from Derry, PA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.6 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
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 Derry, 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 Derry, PA
This is one driving day of about 167.3 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Derry, 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 I 79 for about 105.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.6 mi from Derry, PA
· 1h 50m into the drive
The midpoint is around 83.6 miles from Derry, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.2 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.74 one way
$55.47 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$30.38
$60.75
premium
$4.93
$32.45
$64.89
diesel
$5.61
$36.94
$73.88
Estimated Tolls: $3.61
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(27.7 mi)$3.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.64
$6.69
EV Truck/SUV
66.9
0
$23.42
$10.71
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago
Origin
Derry, PA
Late night
in Derry on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Mina, NY
84 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
8 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
3h 24m 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 Derry, PA to Erie, PA covers 167.3 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 79, Pennsylvania Turnpike, William Penn Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.6 miles from Derry, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.74 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 167.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Derry, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Warrendale and Cranberry.
