How far is Central City, PA from Erie, PA?

The driving distance from Central City, PA to Erie, PA is about 209.5 miles (337.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 143.7 miles (231.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
209.45 mi
03h 17m
Flight
143.67 mi
231.22 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Central City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
143.67 mi
Kilometers
231.22 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.45 mi
Kilometers
337.07 km
Drive Time
03h 17m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Erie
Sun, Apr 19, 4:30 AM EDT
Return by in Central City
Sun, Apr 19, 7:47 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Central City
2026-04-19T01:12
Arrive Erie
Sun, Apr 19, 4:30 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Central City
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Knox
PA

Borough of Pennsylvania

From Central City
104.5 mi
01h 38m
To Erie
105 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Sunday

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph NW
Destination
50°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Central City and Erie.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Central City and Erie.

  1. 1

    Start on Moose Run Road

    2198 ft · 59 sec · Moose Run Road

  2. 2

    Turn left

    50 m · 6 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left

    2256 ft · 56 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    137.4 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Keystone Shortway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 79 North: Erie

    1 km · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight right

    65.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street

    1388 ft · 50 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto West 12th Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · West 12th Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto State Street

    2318 ft · 2 min · State Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Central City and Erie.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
137 mi · 66%
I 79 North
66.5 mi · 32%
West 12th Street
2.3 mi · 1%
Moose Run Road
0.84 mi
State Street
0.44 mi
PA 5 East
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

137 mi · 02h 27m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+65.8 mi
143.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Knox
01h 38m from Central City
Leave By
10:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Central City and Chance Rain Showers near Erie.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Central City to Erie?

The road trip is about 209.5 miles (337.1 km) and usually takes 03h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Knox is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.5 miles from Central City and 105 miles from Erie.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 143.7 miles (231.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.20 one way or $60.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around Central City and Chance Rain Showers near Erie.

Stop Ideas Near Knox

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Knox, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Knox.

RAIL

Union Station

96 mi away
1100 Liberty Avenue
BUS

Jamestown, New York

99 mi away
111 West Third Street
RAIL

Greensburg

103 mi away
Harrison Ave. and Seton Hill Dr.
RAIL

Latrobe station

103 mi away
329 McKinley Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Central City and Erie. Straight-line distance: 143.67 mi (231.22 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Central City

Borough of Pennsylvania

Population1,021
Coordinates40.9500600, -77.7966700
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Erie

#2 Erie

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population95,077
Coordinates42.1292200, -80.0850600
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Moose Run Road (-77.796836, 40.949863)
End: State Street (-80.085094, 42.129207)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 337 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.39 gal
27.98 L · about $30.20
Round trip
$60.39
14.78 gal · 55.96 L
Estimated CO2
65.7 kg one way
Round trip: 131.3 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $30.20 $60.39
Mid-grade $4.60 $33.99 $67.97
Premium $4.95 $36.61 $73.22
Diesel $5.98 $44.19 $88.38

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Central City and Erie. The current time is 01:12:47.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.