How far is Cheltenham, PA from Erie, PA?

The driving distance from Cheltenham, PA to Erie, PA is about 404.3 miles (650.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 296.5 miles (477.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
404.29 mi
06h 27m
Flight
296.51 mi
477.19 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cheltenham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
296.51 mi
Kilometers
477.19 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
404.29 mi
Kilometers
650.64 km
Drive Time
06h 27m

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 06h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Erie
Wed, May 13, 5:41 AM EDT
Return by in Cheltenham
Wed, May 13, 12:09 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cheltenham
2026-05-12T23:13
Arrive Erie
Wed, May 13, 5:41 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:28 PM to 1:58 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cheltenham
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Curtin
PA

Township in Centre County, Pennsylvania

From Cheltenham
208 mi
03h 13m
To Erie
196.2 mi
03h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cheltenham and Erie.

  1. 1

    Start on East Laurel Avenue

    46 m · 9 sec · East Laurel Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1850 ft · 44 sec · Central Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Cottman Avenue

    2911 ft · 1 min · Cottman Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Township Line Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Township Line Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Washington Lane

    1.1 km · 1 min · Washington Lane

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Church Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Church Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Limekiln Pike

    106 m · 10 sec · Limekiln Pike

  8. 8

    Turn right onto South Easton Road

    1564 ft · 33 sec · South Easton Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward PA 309 North: Fort Washington

    1153 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Fort Washington Expressway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Fort Washington Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward PATP, I 276: PA Turnpike, Fort Washington

    1562 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on PATP, I 276: Pennsylvania Turnpike

    3023 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 276 West: Harrisburg

    1495 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    4.1 mi · 4 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 476: Chester, Allentown

    783 ft · 19 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 476 North: Allentown

    1642 ft · 40 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

    74.2 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono

    1.1 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    879 ft · 24 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Hazleton

    1650 ft · 40 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    256.6 mi · 4 hr 38 min · Keystone Shortway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward I 79 North: Erie

    1 km · 1 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight right

    65.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  24. 24

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

    1388 ft · 50 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West 12th Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · West 12th Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto State Street

    2318 ft · 2 min · State Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · State Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
27 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
257 mi · 63%
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
74.2 mi · 18%
I 79 North
66.5 mi · 16%
Pennsylvania Turnpike
4.13 mi · 1%
Fort Washington Expressway
3.61 mi · 1%
West 12th Street
2.3 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

257 mi · 04h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 27m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+107.8 mi
296.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Curtin
03h 13m from Cheltenham
Leave By
11:04 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cheltenham and Sunny near Erie.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cheltenham to Erie?

The road trip is about 404.3 miles (650.6 km) and usually takes 06h 27m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Curtin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 208 miles from Cheltenham and 196.2 miles from Erie.

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

The direct path is about 296.5 miles (477.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 107.8 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $58.31 one way or $116.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cheltenham and Sunny near Erie.

Stop Ideas Near Curtin

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Curtin, 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 Curtin.

RAIL

Lewistown

45 mi away
150 Helen Street
RAIL

Tyrone

54 mi away
Pennsylvania Ave and West 10th St.
RAIL

Huntingdon

59 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Altoona Transportation Center

75 mi away
1231 11th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cheltenham and Erie. Straight-line distance: 296.51 mi (477.19 km).

Cheltenham

#1 Cheltenham

Unincorporated community in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania

Population37,080
Coordinates40.0609400, -75.0940600
Altitude39
CountryUnited States
Erie

#2 Erie

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population95,077
Coordinates42.1292200, -80.0850600
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: East Laurel Avenue (-75.093979, 40.061023)
End: State Street (-80.085094, 42.129207)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 651 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.27 gal
54 L · about $58.31
Round trip
$116.61
28.54 gal · 108 L
Estimated CO2
126.8 kg one way
Round trip: 253.6 kg / 559 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $58.31 $116.61
Mid-grade $4.60 $65.63 $131.26
Premium $4.95 $70.69 $141.39
Diesel $5.98 $85.33 $170.67

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Cheltenham and Erie. The current time is 23:13:35.

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.