How far is Downingtown, PA from Erie, PA?

The driving distance from Downingtown, PA to Erie, PA is about 373.5 miles (601.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 271.2 miles (436.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 55m 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
373.54 mi
05h 57m
Flight
271.26 mi
436.55 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Downingtown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
271.26 mi
Kilometers
436.55 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
373.54 mi
Kilometers
601.15 km
Drive Time
05h 57m

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 05h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Erie
Sun, Apr 19, 2:39 AM EDT
Return by in Downingtown
Sun, Apr 19, 8:37 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Downingtown
2026-04-18T20:41
Arrive Erie
Sun, Apr 19, 2:39 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:58 AM to 1:58 PM EDT

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

Leave by
5:04 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Downingtown
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
Philipsburg
PA

Capital city of Sint Maarten

From Downingtown
186.4 mi
02h 58m
To Erie
187.2 mi
02h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph E
Destination
72°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Brandywine Avenue

    18 m · 6 sec · Brandywine Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Lancaster Avenue

    2888 ft · 2 min · East Lancaster Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Uwchlan Avenue

    3.9 mi · 7 min · West Uwchlan Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Pottstown Pike

    1.3 km · 1 min · Pottstown Pike

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward PATP

    1875 ft · 46 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 West: Harrisburg

    1685 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    64.5 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey

    1340 ft · 2 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    2.5 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 83 North, US 322

    1258 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College

    1402 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Continue on I 81 South, US 322 West: Carlisle, State College

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College

    1437 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College

    51.8 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College

    24.5 mi · 32 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Boal Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Boal Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Mount Nittany Expressway

    17.5 mi · 21 min · Mount Nittany Expressway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on 28th Division Highway

    1.6 km · 1 min · 28th Division Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Port Matilda Highway

    10.1 mi · 14 min · Port Matilda Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Railroad Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Railroad Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto North Centre Street

    783 ft · 10 sec · North Centre Street

  23. 23

    Continue on North Front Street

    1650 ft · 26 sec · North Front Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Philipsburg Bigler Highway

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Philipsburg Bigler Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Woodland Bigler Highway

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Woodland Bigler Highway

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Shawville Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Shawville Highway

  27. 27

    Take the exit left

    1675 ft · 41 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    102.7 mi · 1 hr 50 min · Keystone Shortway

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward I 79 North: Erie

    1 km · 1 min

  30. 30

    Merge slight right

    65.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  31. 31

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

    1388 ft · 50 sec

  32. 32

    Turn right onto West 12th Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · West 12th Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto State Street

    2318 ft · 2 min · State Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Downingtown 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
34 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
103 mi · 27%
US 22 West
76.2 mi · 20%
I 79 North
66.5 mi · 18%
Pennsylvania Turnpike
64.5 mi · 17%
Mount Nittany Expressway
17.5 mi · 5%
Port Matilda Highway
10.1 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

103 mi · 01h 50m

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
05h 57m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+102.3 mi
271.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Philipsburg
02h 58m from Downingtown
Leave By
5:04 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Downingtown and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Erie.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 373.5 miles (601.1 km) and usually takes 05h 57m 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?

Philipsburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 186.4 miles from Downingtown and 187.2 miles from Erie.

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

The direct path is about 271.2 miles (436.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 102.3 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 5:04 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.85 one way or $107.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 117.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Downingtown and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Erie.

Stop Ideas Near Philipsburg

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

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

RAIL

Tyrone

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

Altoona Transportation Center

45 mi away
1231 11th Avenue
RAIL

Huntingdon

49 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Lewistown

64 mi away
150 Helen Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Downingtown and Erie. Straight-line distance: 271.26 mi (436.55 km).

Downingtown

#1 Downingtown

Borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Population8,419
Coordinates40.0065000, -75.7032700
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Erie

#2 Erie

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population95,077
Coordinates42.1292200, -80.0850600
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Brandywine Avenue (-75.703225, 40.006503)
End: State Street (-80.085094, 42.129207)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 601 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.18 gal
49.9 L · about $53.85
Round trip
$107.71
26.36 gal · 99.8 L
Estimated CO2
117.1 kg one way
Round trip: 234.3 kg / 517 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $53.85 $107.71
Mid-grade $4.60 $60.61 $121.23
Premium $4.95 $65.29 $130.59
Diesel $5.98 $78.82 $157.63

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 Downingtown and Erie. The current time is 20:41:54.

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.