Origin
Penn, PA
Morning in Penn on Friday
Local time
8:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Penn, PA to Erie, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
152.6 mi
246 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Penn, PA
George Becker
Trip Overview
The drive from Penn, PA to Erie, PA covers 152.6 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 79, Pennsylvania Turnpike, West 12th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.2 miles on I 79. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.30 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
76.3 miles from Penn, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 152.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 54m highway drive covering 152.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 79 and Pennsylvania Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 105.2 miles on I 79.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 105.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Pennsylvania Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 17 significant decision points across 152.6 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 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
8
43.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, Cranberry
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 28
Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendal...
7
43.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 79 North: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 79 North: Erie
6
149.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m 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
152.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m 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 Penn, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Warrendale and Cranberry.
Pittsburgh
43.3 mi in
|
~51m
Warrendale
43.3 mi in
|
~51m
Cranberry
43.3 mi in
|
~51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 105.2 mi | 1h 53m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 38.6 mi | 41m |
| West 12th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Penn Adamsburg Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Locust Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 11th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 105.2 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penn, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on North Railroad Street
179 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto Harrison Avenue
326 ft
·
16 sec
·
Harrison Avenue
3
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Locust Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto 11th Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
11th Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto Coal Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Coal Street
6
Turn left onto South Youghogheny Street
320 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Youghogheny Street
7
Continue on Penn Adamsburg Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Penn Adamsburg Road
8
Continue on Edna Road
496 ft
·
13 sec
·
Edna Road
9
Take the ramp
370 ft
·
10 sec
10
Merge onto US 30
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP, I 76
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 76; PATP
39 mi
·
41 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 28
Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, Cranberry
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 79
105 mi
·
1 hr 53 min
·
I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
19
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
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 76.3 miles from Penn, PA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.3 miles or 1h 28m 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 21m
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 Penn, 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 Penn, PA
This is one driving day of about 152.6 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Penn, 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 105.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.3 mi from Penn, PA · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.3 miles from Penn, 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 105.2 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.30 one way
$50.60 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $27.71 | $55.42 |
| premium | $4.93 | $29.59 | $59.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.69 | $67.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.01
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(38.6 mi)
$5.01
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
$25
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.02 | $7.32 |
| Efficient EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.35 | $6.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61 | 0 | $21.36 | $9.77 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Morning in Erie on Friday
Local time
8:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 14 mph
44% 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
3 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
2h 54m 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 Penn, PA to Erie, PA covers 152.6 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 79, Pennsylvania Turnpike, West 12th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.3 miles from Penn, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.30 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 17 significant decision points across 152.6 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 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Penn, PA and Erie, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Warrendale and Cranberry.
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. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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