Origin
Fayette, PA
Afternoon in Fayette on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fayette, 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
3h 48m
Distance
188.6 mi
304 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 36m
★
6 AM
3h 49m
8 AM
4h 14m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 55m
3 PM
3h 59m
5 PM
4h 13m
8 PM
3h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fayette, PA
Haneul Trac
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fayette, PA to Erie, PA covers 188.6 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 79, William Flynn Highway, Roy E. Furman Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 145.5 miles on I 79. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.27 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.3 miles from Fayette, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 145.5 mi | 2h 47m |
| William Flynn Highway | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| Roy E. Furman Highway | 13 mi | 17m |
| PA 166 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| River Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| McClellandtown Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 145.5 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayette, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Gallatin Road
261 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gallatin Road
2
Turn left onto PA 166
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
PA 166
3
Turn left onto West Church Avenue
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Church Avenue
4
Continue on River Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
River Avenue
5
Turn left onto PA 21
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
McClellandtown Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on PA 21
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Roy E. Furman Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 79 North: Washington PA
8
Merge onto I 79
23 mi
·
26 min
·
William Flynn Highway
9
Take the exit onto I 79
145 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
I 79
Exit 18
Toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
11
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
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 94.3 miles from Fayette, PA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.5 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 41 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.3 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
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 Fayette, 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 Fayette, PA
This is one driving day of about 188.6 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Fayette, 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 145.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94.3 miles from Fayette, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 188.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
PA 21 / McClellandtown Road
Turn left onto PA 21 / McClellandtown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
17 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 79 North: Washington PA
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 79 North: Washington PA
7
40.1 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
6
185.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 41m 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
188.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 47m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.27 one way
$62.54 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $34.25 | $68.49 |
| premium | $4.93 | $36.58 | $73.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.64 | $83.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.80 | $9.05 |
| Efficient EV | 47.2 | 0 | $16.50 | $7.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.40 | $12.07 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Afternoon in Erie on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 to 17 mph
61% chance
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
14 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 48m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
188.6 mi in 3h 48m, mostly highway — 145.5 mi of that is on I 79.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.5 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and William Flynn Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in near PA 21 / McClellandtown Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 48m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (PA 21 / McClellandtown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.1 miles (I 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 48m. Total distance: 188.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.5 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (PA 21 / McClellandtown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.1 miles (I 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Necessity National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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