Origin
Erie, PA
Evening in Erie on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Erie, PA to Butler County, PA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
96.6 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Butler County, PA
Jack Pace
Trip Overview
This 96.6-mile drive from Erie, PA to Butler County, PA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 1 minute. You'll navigate primarily using local roads like Raymond P. Shafer Highway, William Flinn Highway, and Mercer Butler Pike, with no interstate travel. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $16. Given its relatively short duration and local road nature, this route is best suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. The drive stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 70.4 miles along Raymond P. Shafer Highway. This suggests a journey where you'll be frequently interacting with local roads and traffic patterns rather than cruising on high-speed highways. The character of the drive will likely involve navigating through communities and varying speed limits, offering a more grounded experience of the Pennsylvania landscape.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Raymond P Shafer Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 70.4 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.4 miles (PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (Greengarden Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West Bayfront Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m 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 lane.
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Greengarden Boulevard
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
West Bayfront Parkway
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
Navigation decision point
6
73.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward PA 208, PA 258: Grove City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 113
Toward PA 208, PA 258: Grove City
7
73.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 208, PA 258: Grove City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 113
Toward PA 208, PA 258: Grove City
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 70.4 mi | 1h 15m |
| William Flinn Highway | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| Mercer Butler Pike | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Centreville Pike | 4 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| West 12th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Mercer Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| West Sunbury Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Raymond P Shafer Highway
— 70.4 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Butler County, PA.
1
Start on State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
2
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Greengarden Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Bayfront Parkway
5
Continue on I 79
70 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Raymond P Shafer Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 113
Toward PA 208, PA 258: Grove City
7
Keep slight left at fork
149 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 113
Toward PA 208, PA 258: Grove City
8
Turn left onto Leesburg Grove City Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Leesburg Grove City Road
9
Continue on PA 208; PA 258
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Center Street
10
Turn right onto PA 258
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Mercer Butler Pike
11
Continue on PA 258
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mercer Road
12
Continue on PA 258
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on PA 173
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Centreville Pike
14
Turn slight right
323 ft
·
5 sec
15
Turn straight onto PA 8
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
William Flinn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on PA 8
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left
441 ft
·
33 sec
18
At end of road, turn right onto Sunset Drive
264 ft
·
8 sec
·
Sunset Drive
19
Turn left onto Pal Mar Drive
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Pal Mar Drive
20
Turn left onto PA 308
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Sunbury Road
21
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
2 min
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, leaving in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to reach Butler County with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops mentioned and the drive is under 100 miles, you can be quite flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16, and it's always wise to top off before heading out on local roads. A practical tip for this route is to be prepared for frequent turns and potential slowdowns, especially on the 70.4-mile segment of Raymond P. Shafer Highway.
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 48.3 miles from Erie, PA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.4 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 55m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Butler County, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Erie, 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 Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 96.6 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Erie, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Raymond P Shafer Highway for about 70.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.3 mi from Erie, PA · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.3 miles from Erie, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Raymond P Shafer Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.4 miles.
Arriving in Butler County, PA
The final approach into Butler County, 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 Butler County, 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
$16.02 one way
$32.03 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $17.54 | $35.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $18.73 | $37.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.33 | $42.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.14 | $4.64 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.45 | $3.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.52 | $6.18 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Butler County, PA
Evening in Butler County on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
5 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 1m 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 Erie, PA to Butler County, PA covers 96.6 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Raymond P Shafer Highway, William Flinn Highway, Mercer Butler Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.3 miles from Erie, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.02 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.4 miles (PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (Greengarden Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West Bayfront Parkway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Erie, PA to Butler County, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Erie, PA or browse trips ending in Butler County, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
Explore maps for Erie, PA or Butler County, PA on MapSof.net.