Trip from Oil City, PA to Erie, PA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 57m

Distance

188.2 mi

303 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 45m ★

6 AM

3h 58m

8 AM

4h 24m

10 AM

4h 7m

12 PM

4h 4m

3 PM

4h 8m

5 PM

4h 22m

8 PM

3h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Oil City, PA

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Trip Overview

This 188.2-mile drive from Oil City to Erie, Pennsylvania, will take approximately 3 hours and 57 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey primarily utilizing I-79 and US 422. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is perfectly suited as a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $31. You'll be traveling within the Northeast region for the entire journey, making for a consistent regional experience.

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

94.1 miles from Oil City, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This route is largely highway-focused, with 65% of the drive on faster roads. Expect a significant portion of your time on I-79, including a continuous stretch of 83.6 miles. While I-79 provides an efficient way to cover ground, the Ben Franklin Highway and US 422 sections may offer a slightly different driving experience as you transition. The overall profile suggests a drive where covering distance is the primary objective, with fewer winding backroads and more direct, high-speed travel.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 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 83.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Ben Franklin Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 188.2 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 4.6 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Turn sharp left

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

10.6 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward Ebensburg, Loretto

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Ebensburg, Loretto

10.9 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Ebensburg, Loretto

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward Ebensburg, Loretto

185.2 mi into trip | ~3h 50m 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

187.7 mi into trip | ~3h 56m 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.

Between Oil City, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Ebensburg and Loretto.

Ebensburg

10.6 mi in | ~14m

Loretto

10.6 mi in | ~14m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 79	83.6 mi	1h 29m
Ben Franklin Highway	44.5 mi	59m
US 422	38.5 mi	52m
Benjamin Franklin Highway	6 mi	8m
William Penn Highway	5.6 mi	6m
West 12th Street	2.3 mi	4m
Portage Street	2.2 mi	3m
West 2nd Street	1.2 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 79 — 83.6 mi, about 1h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oil City, PA and Erie, PA.

Start on Cassandra Road

268 ft · 16 sec · Cassandra Road

Turn sharp left onto PA 53

2.2 mi · 3 min · Portage Street

Turn left onto PA 53

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Cleveland Street

Turn right onto PA 53

510 ft · 9 sec · Main Street

Turn slight left onto PA 53

0.9 mi · 1 min · Evergreen Street

Continue on PA 53

1.2 mi · 1 min · West 2nd Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn sharp left

39 ft · 1 sec

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

167 ft · 6 sec

Toward US 22 West: Ebensburg

Turn left

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward US 22 West: Ebensburg

Merge onto US 22

5.6 mi · 6 min · William Penn Highway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Toward Ebensburg, Loretto Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

450 ft · 12 sec

Toward Ebensburg, Loretto Use the straight lane.

Merge onto Rowena Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · Rowena Drive

Toward Ebensburg

Continue on East High Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East High Street

Take the exit

183 ft · 8 sec

Continue on Ben Franklin Highway

1.7 mi · 2 min · Ben Franklin Highway

Merge onto US 422

6.0 mi · 8 min · Benjamin Franklin Highway

Continue on US 422

43 mi · 56 min · Ben Franklin Highway

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto US 422

39 mi · 52 min · US 422

Turn left

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward I 79 North: Erie

Merge onto I 79

84 mi · 1 hr 29 min · I 79

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 49 sec

Exit 183A Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street

Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290

2.3 mi · 4 min · West 12th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto State Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · State Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

State Street

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 57-minute journey, you can comfortably depart in the morning and arrive in Erie by lunchtime. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 83.6-mile stretch on I-79, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. Given the relatively short distance, consider waiting to fill up your tank before leaving Oil City to potentially take advantage of better pricing.

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 94.1 miles from Oil City, PA, or about 2h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.6 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 80 miles or 1h 50m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 94.1 miles or 2h 10m 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 17m

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 Oil City, 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 Oil City, PA

This is one driving day of about 188.2 miles and 3h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oil City, 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 83.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 94.1 mi from Oil City, PA · 2h 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakewood, NY

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

Lakewood, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mina, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 94.1 miles from Oil City, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.6 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.20 one way

$62.40 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 66 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$34.17	$68.34
premium	$4.93	$36.50	$73.00
diesel	$5.61	$41.55	$83.10

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: 65.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	56.5	$19.76	$9.03
Efficient EV	47.1	$16.47	$7.53
EV Truck/SUV	75.3	$26.35	$12.04

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.

Forecast data refreshed 22 hours ago

Origin

Oil City, PA

Night in Oil City on Tuesday

Local time

11:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Erie, PA

Night in Erie on Tuesday

Local time

11:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 6 to 12 mph 46% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 12:23AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

53°F

Lakewood, NY

94 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

1 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

3h 57m 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 Oil City, PA to Erie, PA covers 188.2 miles and takes about 3h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 79, Ben Franklin Highway, US 422. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 94.1 miles from Oil City, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.20 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Between Oil City, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Ebensburg and Loretto.

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Trip from Oil City, PA to Erie, PA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Erie, PA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Oil City, PA

Erie, PA

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 57m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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