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Trip from Harford, PA to Erie, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 54m

Distance

295.1 mi

475 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 42m ★
6 AM
5h 55m
8 AM
6h 21m
10 AM
6h 4m
12 PM
6h 1m
3 PM
6h 5m
5 PM
6h 20m
8 PM
5h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Harford, PA, PA

Harford, PA

Kai

Downtown Erie, PA, PA

Erie, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 295.1-mile journey from Harford, PA, to Erie, PA, is a solid day trip, clocking in at around 5 hours and 54 minutes of driving time. With 93% of the route on highways, it's a straightforward drive focused on covering distance efficiently. The estimated fuel cost is $49, making it a budget-friendly option for a single-day excursion. Both your starting and ending points are within the Northeast region, so you'll be navigating familiar territory throughout. This highway-focused profile means you can expect a consistent pace, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of daylight to spare.

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

147.6 miles from Harford, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Southern Tier Expressway 139.5 mi 2h 42m
I 86 100 mi 1h 56m
I 81 28.8 mi 34m
Hopkins-Bowser Highway 6.8 mi 7m
State Highway 16 5.7 mi 8m
Bayfront Connector 4.4 mi 7m
AMVETS Memorial Highway 3.4 mi 4m
East 10th Street 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Southern Tier Expressway — 139.5 mi, about 2h 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harford, PA and Erie, PA.

1

Start on Tingley Lake Road

196 ft · 12 sec · Tingley Lake Road
2

Turn sharp left onto PA 547; PA 2063

511 ft · 12 sec · State Route 547
3

Continue on PA 547

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Route 547
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
5

Merge onto I 81

29 mi · 34 min · I 81
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17

100 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17

61 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
8

Turn left onto State Highway 16

5.7 mi · 8 min · State Highway 16
9

Continue on NY 16

0.3 mi · 34 sec · North Union Street
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
12

Merge onto I 86; NY 17

79 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Southern Tier Expressway
13

Continue on I 86

6.8 mi · 7 min · Hopkins-Bowser Highway
14

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 1 min
Toward I-90: Erie
15

Merge onto I 90

3.4 mi · 4 min · AMVETS Memorial Highway
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 53 sec
Exit 32 Toward PA 290, PA 430: Wesleyville, Bayfront Connector
17

Turn right onto PA 290; PA 430

0.9 mi · 1 min · Station Road
18

Continue on PA 290

4.4 mi · 7 min · Bayfront Connector
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on East Bayfront Parkway

0.2 mi · 25 sec · East Bayfront Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Turn left onto East 10th Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · East 10th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Turn right onto State Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · State Street
22

Arrive at destination

State Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 54-minute duration, starting your drive from Harford, PA, in the morning is advisable to maximize your time in Erie. With only one recommended stop and a high highway share, you can easily complete this 295.1-mile trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without services could be up to 139.5 miles. Budgeting around $49 for fuel should cover your needs. This route is best tackled when you want to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss, so a prompt departure is key.

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 147.6 miles from Harford, PA, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.5 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 65 miles or 1h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 147.6 miles or 2h 53m 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 46m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Erie, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Harford, 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 Harford, PA

This is one driving day of about 295.1 miles and 5h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Harford, 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 139.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Howard, NY

148 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Barton, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hornell, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 147.6 miles from Harford, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Red E Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hornell, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EVolve NY Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Bath, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19142874200

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Painted Post, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EVolve NY Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Angelica, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Painted Post, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

PISO EV Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Bath, New York

+18332172197

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Elmira, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Lakewood, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Bicentennial Tower

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Erie, Pennsylvania

Hours: Closed

+18144347376

Visit website

Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Jamestown, New York

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+17164840800

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 288 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | PA 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547

Turn sharp left onto PA 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
30.1 mi into trip | ~36m in | I 86; NY 17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward I 86: Corning

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 86: Corning
6
130.2 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
5
283.4 mi into trip | ~5h 34m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I-90: Erie

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I-90: Erie
6
288 mi into trip | ~5h 39m in

Take the exit toward PA 290, PA 430: Wesleyville, Bayfront Connector

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 32 Toward PA 290, PA 430: Wesleyville, Bayfront Co...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.92 one way

$97.85 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 103 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $53.58 $107.17
premium $4.93 $57.23 $114.46
diesel $5.61 $65.15 $130.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 88.5 1 $30.99 $14.16
Efficient EV 73.8 0 $25.82 $11.80
EV Truck/SUV 118 1 $41.31 $18.89

Gas CO2

103 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 18, 2026

Origin

Harford, PA

Late night in Harford on Tuesday

Local time

5:46 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Erie, PA

Late night in Erie on Tuesday

Local time

5:46 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 16 to 20 mph 94% chance Live forecast

42°F

Howard, NY

148 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

5h 54m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 295.1-mile trip, with 93% of your time spent on major interstates like the Southern Tier Expressway, I-86, and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 139.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While primarily interstate, the character of the drive is consistent, emphasizing smooth travel over varied scenery. This route is designed for efficient transit between Pennsylvania's Northeast and Northwest.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 295.1 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: near the start (PA 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 30.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 130.2 miles (I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in Erie, PA

Full guide →

Erie is a city of about 100,000 in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's only lake port on the Great Lakes (Lake Erie).

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 295.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 139.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Erie, 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: near the start (PA 547; PA 2063 / State Route 547): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 30.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 130.2 miles (I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Erie, PA before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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