This 122-mile drive from Emsworth, PA to Erie, PA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. With 95% of the route on highways, it's an efficient trip perfect for a single day. The estimated fuel cost is around $20, making it an economical option. You'll spend most of your time on I-79, traversing familiar Northeast regions of Pennsylvania. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick, no-fuss connection between these two cities, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61 miles from Emsworth, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 122-mile trip, with 95% of your drive taking place on major roads like I-79 and Ohio River Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 116 miles on I-79, offering a consistent pace. While primarily a highway-focused drive, there will be transitions onto local roads like West 12th Street as you approach Erie. This route offers a predictable driving experience, ideal for covering ground efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 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 116 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and West 12th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 119 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 79 North: Erie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 79 North: Erie
5
3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
119 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m 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
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
116 mi
2h 7m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Ohio River Boulevard
1.7 mi
3m
Kilbuck Street
0.6 mi
<1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Lowry Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 116 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Emsworth, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Lowry Avenue
81 ft·8 sec·Lowry Avenue
2
Turn left onto PA 65
1.7 mi·3 min·Ohio River Boulevard
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 79 North: Erie
4
Turn right onto Kilbuck Street
0.6 mi·51 sec·Kilbuck Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I 79: Erie
6
Merge onto I 79
116 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
8
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes, this trip is best enjoyed as a single-day excursion. Aim to depart Emsworth in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic and maximize your daylight hours. With only 122 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 116-mile stretch on I-79. The estimated fuel cost of $20 is a helpful budgeting tool. Since there are no mandated stops in the data, your flexibility is key to enjoying this direct connection.
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 61 miles from Emsworth, PA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m
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 Emsworth, 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 Emsworth, PA
This is one driving day of about 122 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Emsworth, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 79 for about 116 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61 mi from Emsworth, PA
· 1h 9m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.23 one way
$40.45 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.15
$44.30
premium
$4.93
$23.66
$47.32
diesel
$5.61
$26.94
$53.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.6
0
$12.81
$5.86
Efficient EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
EV Truck/SUV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Emsworth, PA
Late night
in Emsworth on Saturday
Local time
1:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Saturday
Local time
1:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
19 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
2h 20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Emsworth, PA to Erie, PA covers 122 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 79, West 12th Street, Ohio River Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61 miles from Emsworth, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.23 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 119 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Emsworth, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
