Spanning 115.9 miles, the drive from Hampton to State College is a straightforward journey through Pennsylvania that typically takes about 2 hours and 39 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via South Cameron Street, US 22, and US 15, making this a practical route for those traveling between these two Northeast locations. Budget approximately $19 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Whether you are heading to State College for a quick visit or a longer getaway, the trip offers a balanced pace that fits well into a busy schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
57.9 miles from Hampton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Cameron Street
55 mi
1h 9m
US 22
24.5 mi
32m
US 15
18.6 mi
26m
Carlisle Pike
5.5 mi
7m
Boal Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
South Atherton Street
2.5 mi
5m
American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
I 83
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
South Cameron Street
— 55 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hampton, PA and State College, PA.
1
Start on this road
328 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Continue on PA 94
5.5 mi·7 min·Carlisle Pike
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
4
Merge onto US 15
14 mi·18 min·US 15
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 15
5.1 mi·7 min·US 15
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, YorkUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto PA 581
1.5 mi·2 min·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
8
Continue on PA 581
0.3 mi·21 sec·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Exit 6AToward I 83 North: Harrisburg, Hershey
9
Merge onto I 83
1.1 mi·1 min·I 83
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 43Toward Capitol, 2nd StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto Paxton Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·Paxton Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto PA 230
55 mi·1 hr 9 min·South Cameron Street
Use the left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
24 mi·32 min·US 22; US 322
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College
14
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
2.5 mi·4 min·Boal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 322 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·Boal Avenue
Toward US 322 Business: Boalsburg
16
Continue on US 322 Business
2.5 mi·5 min·South Atherton Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto South Allen Street
0.9 mi·2 min·South Allen Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
South Allen Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 39 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around traffic patterns. Since the route includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refresh before tackling the final leg of the journey. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial stretch on South Cameron Street to ensure you stay within your $19 budget. Because the route is relatively short, you don't need to worry about complex multi-day logistics, but it is wise to keep a consistent pace to maintain your estimated arrival time. Focus on the transition points between US 22 and US 15, as these intersections are critical to staying on track.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.9 miles from Hampton, PA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.9 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near State College, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hampton, 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 Hampton, PA
This is one driving day of about 115.9 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Hampton, 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 South Cameron Street for about 55 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 24.4 and 83.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
24.4 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
8
27.8 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward Capitol, 2nd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43
Toward Capitol, 2nd Street
6
28.4 mi into trip|~41m in|Paxton Street
Turn right onto Paxton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
28.7 mi into trip|~41m in|PA 230 / South Cameron Street
Turn left onto PA 230 / South Cameron Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|US 22; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Mount Union, St...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.21 one way
$38.43 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.04
$42.09
premium
$4.93
$22.48
$44.95
diesel
$5.61
$25.59
$51.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.17
$5.56
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.14
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.23
$7.42
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hampton, PA
Late night
in Hampton on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
State College, PA
Late night
in State College on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Liverpool, PA
58 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
24 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
2h 39m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between local thoroughfares and major highways. With a highway share of 38%, you won't be stuck on a monotonous interstate for the entire duration, allowing for a bit more variety behind the wheel. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 55-mile segment on South Cameron Street, which serves as the primary backbone of the early drive. As you progress, the road character shifts, requiring you to remain alert as you move from local roads onto the US 22 and US 15 corridors. This blend of road types keeps the drive engaging without becoming overly technical or exhausting.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55 mi on South Cameron Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.4 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 115.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.4 miles (Paxton Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,743 ft379 ft
Total Climb
1,564 ft
Total Descent
962 ft
Highest Point
1,743 ft
~99.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,364 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hampton, PA and State College, PA, road signs point toward York, Hershey and Capitol.
York
24.4 mi in|~34m
Hershey
26.4 mi in|~37m|via PA 581
Capitol
27.8 mi in|~39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 115.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55 miles on South Cameron Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at State College, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.4 miles (Paxton Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at State College, PA before heading back.
