How far is Erie, PA from Preston, PA?

The driving distance from Erie, PA to Preston, PA is about 325.8 miles (524.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 224.9 miles (362 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 00m 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
325.77 mi
06h 00m
Flight
224.91 mi
361.95 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Erie.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
224.91 mi
Kilometers
361.95 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
325.77 mi
Kilometers
524.28 km
Drive Time
06h 00m

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 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Preston
Sun, Apr 19, 7:28 AM EDT
Return by in Erie
Sun, Apr 19, 1:29 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Erie
2026-04-19T01:28
Arrive Preston
Sun, Apr 19, 7:28 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:00 PM to 2:00 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
5:00 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Erie
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
Plymptonville
PA

Census designated place

From Erie
162.7 mi
03h 00m
To Preston
163.1 mi
03h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph W
Destination
53°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on State Street

    2318 ft · 2 min · State Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 12th Street

    2 mi · 4 min · West 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard

    583 ft · 23 sec · Greengarden Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway

    862 ft · 20 sec · West Bayfront Parkway

  5. 5

    Continue on Raymond P Shafer Highway

    66.8 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Raymond P Shafer Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Clarion

    2084 ft · 59 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    240.3 mi · 4 hr 19 min · Keystone Shortway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre

    1.1 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    12.8 mi · 16 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 29 north: Nanticoke

    1 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue on South Cross Valley Expressway

    1629 ft · 25 sec · South Cross Valley Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Sugar Notch, Ashley

    883 ft · 30 sec

  13. 13

    Turn slight right

    49 m · 4 sec

  14. 14

    Turn slight right onto Main Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Chester Street

    87 m · 13 sec · Chester Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Chester Street

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
240 mi · 74%
Raymond P Shafer Highway
66.8 mi · 21%
I 81 North
13.5 mi · 4%
West 12th Street
2 mi · 1%
Main Street
0.76 mi
PA 29 north
0.64 mi
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

240 mi · 04h 19m

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
06h 00m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+100.9 mi
224.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Plymptonville
03h 00m from Erie
Leave By
5:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Erie and Rain Showers near Preston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 325.8 miles (524.3 km) and usually takes 06h 00m 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?

Plymptonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.7 miles from Erie and 163.1 miles from Preston.

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

The direct path is about 224.9 miles (362 km), while the road route adds roughly 100.9 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 5:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.99 one way or $93.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Erie and Rain Showers near Preston.

Stop Ideas Near Plymptonville

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

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

RAIL

Tyrone

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

Altoona Transportation Center

59 mi away
1231 11th Avenue
RAIL

Huntingdon

72 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Johnstown

89 mi away
47 Walnut Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Erie and Preston. Straight-line distance: 224.91 mi (361.95 km).

Erie

#1 Erie

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population95,077
Coordinates42.1292200, -80.0850600
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Preston

Township in Wayne County, Pennsylvania

Population1,003
Coordinates41.2070300, -75.9054800
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Start: Erie (-80.08506, 42.12922)
End: Preston (-75.90548, 41.20703)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 524 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.5 gal
43.52 L · about $46.99
Round trip
$93.98
23 gal · 87.04 L
Estimated CO2
102.2 kg one way
Round trip: 204.4 kg / 451 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $46.99 $93.98
Mid-grade $4.60 $52.89 $105.78
Premium $4.95 $56.97 $113.94
Diesel $5.98 $68.77 $137.54

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 Erie and Preston. The current time is 01:28:41.

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.