Erie to Hollenback is 264.2 miles and takes about 5h 26m via Southern Tier Expressway, US 220, and Grand Army of the Republic Highway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, starting in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. It's a solid option for a single-day trip, primarily utilizing major roadways. Expect a consistent pace for most of the drive, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
132.1 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~529 veh/hr typical
· worst 723
Quietest
2 AM
~31 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Hollenback, PA.
1
Start on State Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·State Street
2
Turn left onto East 8th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East 8th Street
3
Turn right onto East Bayfront Parkway
0.3 mi·44 sec·East Bayfront Parkway
4
Continue on PA 290
4.4 mi·7 min·Bayfront Connector
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on PA 290; PA 430
1.0 mi·1 min·Station Road
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
7
Merge onto I 90
4.1 mi·4 min·AMVETS Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·37 sec
Exit 37Toward I 86 East: Jamestown
9
Continue on I 86
7.0 mi·8 min·Hopkins-Bowser Highway
10
Continue on I 86; NY 17
205 mi·3 hr 57 min·Southern Tier Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 60Toward US 220: Waverly, Sayre
12
Turn right onto US 220
15 mi·17 min·US 220
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 6: Towanda, Troy
14
Turn left onto US 6
0.1 mi·12 sec·Roosevelt Highway
15
Continue on US 6
1.3 mi·1 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·2 min·Reuter Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·2 min·York Avenue
18
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·2 min·Main Street
19
Turn left onto US 6
0.4 mi·49 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 6
2.0 mi·3 min·Golden Mile Road
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 6
12 mi·16 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 6
0.5 mi·1 min·State Street
23
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi·46 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
24
Turn right onto Wyalusing-New Albany Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Wyalusing-New Albany Road
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto PA 187
4.8 mi·8 min·PA 187
26
Arrive at destination
PA 187
Trip Plan
With a total duration of around 5 hours and 26 minutes, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for an unhurried arrival. The longest stretch without an obvious exit point is over 200 miles, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before heading out of Erie. While there's only one suggested stop, you can always pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto US 220 and the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 132.1 miles from Erie, PA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 58 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.1 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hollenback, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Erie, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 264.2 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Erie, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Southern Tier Expressway for about 205.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 258.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.3 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 86 East: Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 37
Toward I 86 East: Jamestown
6
223.9 mi into trip|~4h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 220: Waverly, Sayre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 60
Toward US 220: Waverly, Sayre
5
224.2 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|US 220
Turn right onto US 220
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
243.2 mi into trip|~4h 53m in|US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Turn left onto US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
258.5 mi into trip|~5h 16m in|Wyalusing-New Albany Road
Turn right onto Wyalusing-New Albany Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.14 one way
$92.28 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$50.52
$101.04
premium
$5.20
$54.05
$108.09
diesel
$6.28
$65.28
$130.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.3
0
$27.74
$12.68
Efficient EV
66.1
0
$23.12
$10.57
EV Truck/SUV
105.7
1
$36.99
$16.91
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Erie, PA
Night
in Erie on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
SW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Hollenback, PA
Night
in Hollenback on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
39°F
Bath, NY
132 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 85% of this 264.2-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a major road is 205.1 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway. After this, you'll transition to US 220 and then the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Be prepared for a rural cruising feel for a significant portion of the drive.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 205.1 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and US 220. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 264.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 223.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.2 miles (US 220): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,730 ft653 ft
Total Climb
1,384 ft
Total Descent
1,209 ft
Highest Point
1,730 ft
~132.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,077 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Erie, PA and Hollenback, PA, road signs point toward Sayre and Troy.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 264.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 205.1 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 223.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.2 miles (US 220): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hollenback, PA before the return drive.
