North Braddock to Erie is 139.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m via I-79 and I-279, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Primarily a highway-focused journey, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. Expect the majority of your travel to be on major interstates, making it a convenient option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route for its directness and minimal fuss.
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
69.7 miles from North Braddock, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 139.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the 139.3 miles spent on interstates like I-79 and I-279, including the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 111.2 miles on I-79. The road remains largely consistent as an interstate experience for the duration of your trip. This means you can anticipate steady speeds and limited opportunities for spontaneous stops along the way, as the focus is clearly on efficient travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 111.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and I 279. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Center Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 139.3 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 0.2 miles (Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (US 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Center Street
Turn left onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
8
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in|US 30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30 toward I 376 West, US 22 West, US 30 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West, US 30 West: Pitt...
8
11.6 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 279 North: Fort Duquesne Bridge, North Shore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70C
Toward I 279 North: Fort Duquesne Bridge, North...
6
136.3 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
138.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Braddock, PA to Erie, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Shore along the way.
Shore
11.6 mi in|~18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
111.2 mi
2h
I 279
13.2 mi
17m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
7.6 mi
10m
Ardmore Boulevard
2.4 mi
4m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Lincoln Highway
0.7 mi
1m
US 30
0.5 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 111.2 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Braddock, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Brinton Avenue
48 ft·1 sec·Brinton Avenue
2
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto Center Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Center Street
4
Turn left onto US 30
0.7 mi·1 min·Lincoln Highway
5
Continue on US 30
2.4 mi·4 min·Ardmore Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit onto US 30
0.4 mi·45 sec·US 30
Toward I 376, US 22, US 30 West: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30
0.2 mi·23 sec·US 30
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West, US 30 West: PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
7.6 mi·10 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 70CToward I 279 North: Fort Duquesne Bridge, North ShoreUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 279
13 mi·17 min·I 279
11
Merge onto I 79
111 mi·2 hr·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
13
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 44m duration, you can comfortably complete this 139.3-mile trip in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected traffic, especially around the Pittsburgh metropolitan area as you begin on I-279 and the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $23, you won't need extensive planning. The longest stretch of 111.2 miles on I-79 means you'll want to ensure you have ample fuel before embarking on that segment.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.7 miles from North Braddock, PA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.2 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 31 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.7 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
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 North Braddock, 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 North Braddock, PA
This is one driving day of about 139.3 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from North Braddock, 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 111.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.7 mi from North Braddock, PA
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.09 one way
$46.19 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$25.29
$50.59
premium
$4.93
$27.02
$54.03
diesel
$5.61
$30.76
$61.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.8
0
$14.63
$6.69
Efficient EV
34.8
0
$12.19
$5.57
EV Truck/SUV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.92
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
North Braddock, PA
Morning
in North Braddock on Saturday
Local time
11:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Saturday
Local time
11:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
3 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 44m 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 North Braddock, PA to Erie, PA covers 139.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 79, I 279, Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.7 miles from North Braddock, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.09 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 139.3 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 0.2 miles (Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (US 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from North Braddock, PA to Erie, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Shore along the way.
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.
