How far is Philadelphia, PA from Erie, PA?

The driving distance from Philadelphia, PA to Erie, PA is about 401.5 miles (646.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 297.3 miles (478.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
401.53 mi
06h 25m
Flight
297.24 mi
478.36 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Philadelphia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
297.24 mi
Kilometers
478.36 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
401.53 mi
Kilometers
646.2 km
Drive Time
06h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Erie
Wed, Apr 22, 10:55 PM EDT
Return by in Philadelphia
Thu, Apr 23, 5:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Philadelphia
2026-04-22T16:30
Arrive Erie
Wed, Apr 22, 10:55 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:25 PM to 1:55 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Philadelphia
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Curtin
PA

Township in Centre County, Pennsylvania

From Philadelphia
210 mi
03h 12m
To Erie
191.5 mi
03h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
62°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Penn Square

    121 m · 9 sec · South Penn Square

  2. 2

    Keep slight left to continue on East Penn Square

    737 ft · 19 sec · East Penn Square

  3. 3

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard

    803 ft · 21 sec · John F. Kennedy Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North 16th Street

    2132 ft · 55 sec · North 16th Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge

    1091 ft · 27 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Vine Street Expressway

    1 mi · 2 min · Vine Street Expressway

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway

    12.1 mi · 17 min · Schuylkill Expressway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting

    3232 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Mid-County Expressway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Mid-County Expressway

  10. 10

    Turn slight left onto Mid-County Expressway

    885 ft · 14 sec · Mid-County Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

    75 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono

    1.1 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    879 ft · 24 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Hazleton

    1650 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    256.6 mi · 4 hr 38 min · Keystone Shortway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 79 North: Erie

    1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight right

    65.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  18. 18

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

    1388 ft · 50 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto West 12th Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · West 12th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto State Street

    2318 ft · 2 min · State Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Philadelphia 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
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
5 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
257 mi · 64%
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75 mi · 19%
I 79 North
66.5 mi · 17%
Schuylkill Expressway
12.1 mi · 3%
Mid-County Expressway
3.43 mi · 1%
West 12th Street
2.3 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 25m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+104.2 mi
297.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Curtin
03h 12m from Philadelphia
Leave By
11:10 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Philadelphia and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Erie.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 401.5 miles (646.2 km) and usually takes 06h 25m 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 miles from Philadelphia and 191.5 miles from Erie.

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

The direct path is about 297.3 miles (478.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 104.2 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 $57.90 one way or $115.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 125.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Philadelphia and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Erie.

Stop Ideas Near Curtin

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

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

RAIL

Lewistown

45 mi away
150 Helen Street
RAIL

Tyrone

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

Huntingdon

59 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Altoona Transportation Center

75 mi away
1231 11th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Philadelphia and Erie. Straight-line distance: 297.24 mi (478.36 km).

Philadelphia

#1 Philadelphia

The sixth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Population1,578,487
Coordinates39.9523300, -75.1637900
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Erie

#2 Erie

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population95,077
Coordinates42.1292200, -80.0850600
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: South Penn Square (-75.163922, 39.951648)
End: State Street (-80.085094, 42.129207)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 646 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.17 gal
53.63 L · about $57.90
Round trip
$115.80
28.34 gal · 107.26 L
Estimated CO2
125.9 kg one way
Round trip: 251.9 kg / 555 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $57.90 $115.80
Mid-grade $4.60 $65.17 $130.34
Premium $4.95 $70.20 $140.40
Diesel $5.98 $84.74 $169.47

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Philadelphia and Erie. The current time is 16:30:12.

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.