How far is Erie, PA from Columbia, PA?
The driving distance from Erie, PA to Columbia, PA is about 328.6 miles (528.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 236.1 miles (379.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 07m 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 06h 33m.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Erie and Columbia.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie and Columbia.
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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
103.3 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Keystone Shortway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
1699 ft · 43 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Shawville Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Shawville Highway
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10
Turn left onto Woodland Bigler Highway
2.8 mi · 3 min · Woodland Bigler Highway
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11
Continue on Philipsburg Bigler Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Philipsburg Bigler Highway
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12
Continue on North Front Street
1650 ft · 24 sec · North Front Street
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13
Continue on North Centre Street
783 ft · 15 sec · North Centre Street
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14
Turn left onto Railroad Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · Railroad Street
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15
Continue on Port Matilda Highway
5.9 mi · 8 min · Port Matilda Highway
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16
Turn slight right onto Upper Flat Rock Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Upper Flat Rock Road
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17
Continue on Flat Rock Road
1.8 mi · 2 min · Flat Rock Road
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18
Continue on 28th Division Highway
8.6 mi · 10 min · 28th Division Highway
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19
Keep slight left
4 mi · 5 min
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Mount Nittany Expressway
6.2 mi · 9 min · Mount Nittany Expressway
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21
Continue on Boal Avenue
2.6 mi · 4 min · Boal Avenue
-
22
Continue on General Potter Highway
75.6 mi · 1 hr 35 min · General Potter Highway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Hershey, Hazleton, Carlisle
968 ft · 21 sec
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24
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 322 East: Hershey, Hazleton
1.4 km · 2 min
-
25
Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
-
26
Keep slight right to continue on I 83 South, US 322 East: Hershey, York
4.3 mi · 6 min
-
27
Keep slight left to continue on I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport
910 ft · 22 sec
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28
Continue straight
2.7 mi · 4 min
-
29
Take the exit slight right toward PA 283 East: Harrisburg International Airport, Lancaster
797 ft · 27 sec
-
30
Merge slight left
14.6 mi · 17 min
-
31
Take the exit slight right toward Rheems, Elizabethtown
1524 ft · 37 sec
-
32
Turn straight onto Cloverleaf Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Cloverleaf Road
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33
Turn left onto West Main Street
2.6 mi · 4 min · West Main Street
-
34
Turn right onto South Angle Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · South Angle Street
-
35
Continue on Union School Road
2888 ft · 59 sec · Union School Road
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36
Turn slight right onto Anderson Ferry Road
1.3 km · 1 min · Anderson Ferry Road
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37
Turn left onto Long Lane
1.4 mi · 3 min · Long Lane
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38
At the end of the road, turn right onto Marietta Avenue
30 m · 3 sec · Marietta Avenue
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39
Turn left onto Long Lane
1.3 km · 2 min · Long Lane
-
40
Turn left onto River Road
61 m · 3 sec · River Road
-
41
Continue on Chickies Hill Road
1.5 mi · 2 min · Chickies Hill Road
-
42
Continue on North 3rd Street
2725 ft · 1 min · North 3rd Street
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Erie and Columbia.
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
103 mi · 01h 51m
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.
Sunny leaving Erie and Mostly Sunny near Columbia.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Erie to Columbia?
The road trip is about 328.6 miles (528.8 km) and usually takes 06h 33m 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?
Plymptonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 164.1 miles from Erie and 164.4 miles from Columbia.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 236.1 miles (379.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 92.5 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 $47.36 one way or $94.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Erie and Mostly Sunny near Columbia.
Stop Ideas Near Plymptonville
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 Plymptonville.
Tyrone
Altoona Transportation Center
Huntingdon
Johnstown
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Erie and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 236.05 mi (379.89 km).
#1 Erie
The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.
| Population | 95,077 |
| Coordinates | 42.1292200, -80.0850600 |
| Altitude | 199 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Columbia
Borough in western Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
| Population | 10,295 |
| Coordinates | 40.0337100, -76.5044100 |
| Altitude | 92 |
| Country | United States |
End: Columbia (-76.50441, 40.03371)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 529 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 56m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 12m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 28m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 41m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $47.36 | $94.71 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $53.30 | $106.60 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $57.42 | $114.83 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $69.31 | $138.62 |
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 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.