The drive from Lampeter, PA to Erie, PA covers 340.2 miles and takes about 6h 45m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 79, US 322 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.7 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.40 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
170.1 miles from Lampeter, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 340.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 45m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lampeter, PA to Erie, PA covers 340.2 miles and takes about 6h 45m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 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 102.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near PA 283.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 340.2 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 9.3 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.3 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
9.3 mi into trip|~15m in|PA 283
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283 toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
7
40.3 mi into trip|~52m in|I 283
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283 toward I 83 North, US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B-C
Toward I 83 North, US 322
8
40.6 mi into trip|~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
47 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
47.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, Stat...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lampeter, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward State College and Lewistown.
State College
40.6 mi in|~53m
Lewistown
47 mi in|~1h 2m|via US 322
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
102.7 mi
1h 50m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
US 322
54.4 mi
1h 7m
PA 283
28.6 mi
33m
US 22
24.5 mi
32m
Mount Nittany Expressway
17.5 mi
21m
Port Matilda Highway
10.1 mi
14m
Philipsburg Bigler Highway
7.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lampeter, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 741
60 ft·3 sec·Village Road
2
Turn right onto Lampeter Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Lampeter Road
3
Continue on Pitney Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Pitney Road
4
Turn right onto Hempstead Road
0.4 mi·52 sec·Hempstead Road
5
Turn right onto Greenfield Road
396 ft·7 sec·Greenfield Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 30 West
7
Merge onto US 30
3.4 mi·4 min·US 30
8
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283
29 mi·33 min·PA 283
Toward PA 283 West: HarrisburgUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 283 North: Harrisburg
10
Merge onto I 283
1.9 mi·2 min·I 283
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 283
Exit 3B-CToward I 83 North, US 322
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 3BToward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
13
Continue on I 83
3.7 mi·5 min·I 83
14
Continue on US 322
2.4 mi·3 min·US 322
Exit 51AToward I 81 South, US 322 West: Carlisle, State College
15
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 322
Exit 67A; 67BToward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
52 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 322
Exit 67BToward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State CollegeUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
24 mi·32 min·US 22; US 322
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College
18
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.6 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
18 mi·21 min·Mount Nittany Expressway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·28th Division Highway
Exit 62Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
21
Continue on US 322
10 mi·14 min·Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
23
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Centre Street
24
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Front Street
25
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
26
Continue on US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
27
Turn right onto PA 970
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
29
Merge onto I 80
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
30
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
31
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
33
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
35
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.1 miles from Lampeter, PA, or about 3h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 75 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.1 miles or 3h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 37m
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 Lampeter, 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 Lampeter, PA
This is one driving day of about 340.2 miles and 6h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Lampeter, 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 102.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 170.1 mi from Lampeter, PA
· 3h 38m into the drive
The midpoint is around 170.1 miles from Lampeter, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.7 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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 58.7
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 23.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.40 one way
$112.80 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$61.77
$123.54
premium
$4.93
$65.98
$131.95
diesel
$5.61
$75.11
$150.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.1
1
$35.72
$16.33
Efficient EV
85.1
0
$29.77
$13.61
EV Truck/SUV
136.1
1
$47.63
$21.77
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Lampeter, PA
Morning
in Lampeter on Friday
Local time
6:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Friday
Local time
6:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Sunny
W 17 mph10% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Wellsville, NY
170 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
9 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
6h 45m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lampeter, PA to Erie, PA covers 340.2 miles and takes about 6h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 79, US 322. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 170.1 miles from Lampeter, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 340.2 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 9.3 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.3 miles (I 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lampeter, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward State College and Lewistown.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
