How far is Erie, PA from Salem, PA?

The driving distance from Erie, PA to Salem, PA is about 291.1 miles (468.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 194.9 miles (313.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 13m 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
291.12 mi
05h 36m
Flight
194.89 mi
313.64 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
194.89 mi
Kilometers
313.64 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
291.12 mi
Kilometers
468.51 km
Drive Time
05h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Tue, Apr 21, 12:40 PM EDT
Return by in Erie
Tue, Apr 21, 6:17 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Erie
2026-04-21T07:03
Arrive Salem
Tue, Apr 21, 12:40 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:37 AM to 1:37 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
5:46 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
North Irwin
PA

Borough of Pennsylvania

From Erie
145.5 mi
02h 48m
To Salem
145.6 mi
02h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph S
Destination
59°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    104 mi · 1 hr 52 min · Raymond P Shafer Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Cranberry, Pennsylvania Turnpike

    2944 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg

    1.2 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg

    2328 ft · 57 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Harrisburg

    1861 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    161.1 mi · 2 hr 56 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 75: Willow Hill, Fort Loudon

    1847 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Willow Hill Interchange

    1495 ft · 34 sec · Willow Hill Interchange

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Path Valley Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Path Valley Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Fannettsburg Road East

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Fannettsburg Road East

  15. 15

    Continue on Shinabrook Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Shinabrook Road

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Upper Strasburg Road

    3 mi · 5 min · Upper Strasburg Road

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Upper Strasburg Road

    6.2 mi · 11 min · Upper Strasburg Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Cumberland Highway

    4 mi · 6 min · Cumberland Highway

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Coffey Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Coffey Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Letterkenny Road

    2809 ft · 1 min · Letterkenny Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Salem Road

    40 m · 4 sec · Salem Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Salem Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
161 mi · 55%
Raymond P Shafer Highway
104 mi · 36%
Upper Strasburg Road
9.2 mi · 3%
Cumberland Highway
3.95 mi · 1%
Fannettsburg Road East
2.13 mi · 1%
Path Valley Road
2.13 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

161 mi · 02h 56m

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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+96.2 mi
194.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Irwin
02h 48m from Erie
Leave By
5:46 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Erie and Sunny near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 291.1 miles (468.5 km) and usually takes 05h 36m 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?

North Irwin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145.5 miles from Erie and 145.6 miles from Salem.

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

The direct path is about 194.9 miles (313.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 96.2 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:46 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.96 one way or $83.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Erie and Sunny near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near North Irwin

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

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

RAIL

Greensburg

15 mi away
Harrison Ave. and Seton Hill Dr.
RAIL

Union Station

27 mi away
1100 Liberty Avenue
RAIL

Latrobe station

28 mi away
329 McKinley Ave
RAIL

Connellsville station

37 mi away
North Water Street and West Peach Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Erie and Salem. Straight-line distance: 194.89 mi (313.64 km).

Erie

#1 Erie

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population95,077
Coordinates42.1292200, -80.0850600
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Salem

#2 Salem

Township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Population6,367
Coordinates39.9850900, -77.6541600
Altitude239
CountryUnited States
Start: Erie (-80.08506, 42.12922)
End: Salem (-77.65416, 39.98509)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 469 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.27 gal
38.89 L · about $41.96
Round trip
$83.93
20.54 gal · 77.78 L
Estimated CO2
91.3 kg one way
Round trip: 182.5 kg / 402 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $41.96 $83.93
Mid-grade $4.60 $47.23 $94.46
Premium $4.95 $50.88 $101.76
Diesel $5.98 $61.41 $122.83

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 21, 2026

There is no time difference between Erie and Salem. The current time is 07:03:55.

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.