How far is Erie, PA from Center City, PA?
The driving distance from Erie, PA to Center City, PA is about 421.7 miles (678.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 49m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 297.5 miles (478.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 07h 49m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Township in Centre County, Pennsylvania
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Erie and Center City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie and Center City.
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1
Start on State Street
2318 ft · 2 min · State Street
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2
Turn right onto West 12th Street
2 mi · 4 min · West 12th Street
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3
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
583 ft · 23 sec · Greengarden Boulevard
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4
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
862 ft · 20 sec · West Bayfront Parkway
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5
Continue on Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Raymond P Shafer Highway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Clarion
2084 ft · 59 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
257.1 mi · 4 hr 38 min · Keystone Shortway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
1.1 km · 1 min
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9
Keep slight left
1217 ft · 32 sec
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 476 South: Allentown
1303 ft · 32 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
74.6 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
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12
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
1558 ft · 24 sec · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
1179 ft · 18 sec · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
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14
Continue on Mid-County Expressway
3.4 mi · 5 min · Mid-County Expressway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
1758 ft · 43 sec
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16
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia
1722 ft · 42 sec
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17
Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway
12.6 mi · 18 min · Schuylkill Expressway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Vine Street Expressway
1.3 km · 1 min · Vine Street Expressway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward Central Philadelphia
731 ft · 18 sec
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20
Keep slight right to continue on 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
96 m · 11 sec
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21
Turn right onto North 15th Street
144 m · 17 sec · North 15th Street
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22
Turn left onto Race Street
1541 ft · 39 sec · Race Street
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23
Turn right onto North 12th Street
1682 ft · 51 sec · North 12th Street
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24
Turn left onto Ludlow Street
69 m · 10 sec · Ludlow Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Ludlow Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Erie and Center City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Erie and Mostly Sunny near Center City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Erie to Center City?
The road trip is about 421.7 miles (678.7 km) and usually takes 07h 49m 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 210.6 miles from Erie and 211.1 miles from Center City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 297.5 miles (478.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 124.2 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 $60.80 one way or $121.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 132.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Erie and Mostly Sunny near Center City.
Stop Ideas Near Curtin
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Curtin.
Lewistown
Tyrone
Huntingdon
Altoona Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Erie and Center City. Straight-line distance: 297.49 mi (478.76 km).
#1 Erie
The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.
| Population | 95,077 |
| Coordinates | 42.1292200, -80.0850600 |
| Altitude | 199 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Center City
Neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA
| Population | 57,239 |
| Coordinates | 39.9512000, -75.1592300 |
| Altitude | - |
| Country | United States |
End: Center City (-75.15923, 39.9512)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 679 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 01m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $60.80 | $121.60 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $68.43 | $136.87 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $73.72 | $147.43 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $88.98 | $177.96 |
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 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.