The drive from Macungie, PA to Erie, PA covers 358.3 miles and takes about 6h 49m 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, William Penn Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 204 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.40 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
179.1 miles from Macungie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 32m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 49m. Total distance: 358.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 49m drive with frequent turns across 358.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 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 204 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 358.3 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 10.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
10.4 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the ramp toward I 78 West, US 22 West: Harrisburg
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 78 West, US 22 West: Harrisburg
7
25.9 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
7
26 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
6
355.3 mi into trip|~6h 42m 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
357.8 mi into trip|~6h 47m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
204 mi
3h 39m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
William Penn Highway
15.3 mi
18m
Locust Gap Highway
11.5 mi
13m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
South Market Street
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
East Main Street
3.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 204 mi, about 3h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Macungie, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on this road
243 ft·18 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right
85 ft·8 sec
3
Turn right onto PA 100
3.5 mi·5 min·East Main Street
4
Turn right onto Weilers Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Weilers Road
5
Turn left onto Hamilton Boulevard
3.0 mi·4 min·Hamilton Boulevard
6
Enter roundabout onto Schantz Road
43 ft·0 sec·Schantz Road
7
Continue on Schantz Road
218 ft·7 sec·Schantz Road
8
Turn left onto PA 863
3.3 mi·5 min·Independent Road
9
Continue on PA 863
0.2 mi·28 sec·Golden Key Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 78 West, US 22 West: HarrisburgUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 78; US 22
15 mi·18 min·William Penn Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 29Toward PA 61 North: PottsvilleUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 29Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
14
Merge onto PA 61
2.4 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
17
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
18
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
19
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mauch Chunk Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Centre Street
21
Turn left onto US 209
2.3 mi·4 min·West Market Street
22
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi·2 min·Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi·1 min·East Sunbury Street
24
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi·11 min·Sunbury Road
25
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
26
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi·43 sec·Locust Gap Highway
27
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi·13 min·Locust Gap Highway
28
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·South Market Street
29
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi·45 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
33
Merge onto I 80
204 mi·3 hr 39 min·Keystone Shortway
34
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
35
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
36
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
37
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
39
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 179.1 miles from Macungie, PA, or about 3h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204 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 79 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.1 miles or 3h 32m 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 40m
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 Macungie, 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 Macungie, PA
This is one driving day of about 358.3 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Macungie, 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 204 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 179.1 mi from Macungie, PA
· 3h 32m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 49.4
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.40 one way
$118.80 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$65.06
$130.12
premium
$4.93
$69.49
$138.98
diesel
$5.61
$79.11
$158.22
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Centre Turnpike
(10.6 mi)$0.74
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
$59
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.5
1
$37.62
$17.20
Efficient EV
89.6
1
$31.35
$14.33
EV Truck/SUV
143.3
1
$50.16
$22.93
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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 15, 2026
Origin
Macungie, PA
Morning
in Macungie on Friday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Friday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Wellsville, NY
179 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
14 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
6h 49m 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 Macungie, PA to Erie, PA covers 358.3 miles and takes about 6h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 79, William Penn Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179.1 miles from Macungie, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.40 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 23 significant decision points across 358.3 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 10.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Macungie, PA to Erie, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Valley Forge National Historical Park.
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.
