Spanning 119.9 miles, this trip from Henderson to Erie takes approximately 1 hour and 54 minutes to complete. Because the travel time is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion. You should budget about $20 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast Pennsylvania locations. Navigating this route involves a combination of C L School Road, Simpson Road, and Route 322. Since the drive is straightforward, you won't need to worry about planning an overnight stay unless you have additional activities scheduled in Erie.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.3 miles from Henderson, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Keystone Shortway
50.6 mi
54m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Route 322
1 mi
1m
Simpson Road
0.7 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
C L School Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Kingsville Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 65.8 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Kingsville Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·Kingsville Road
2
Continue on C L School Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·C L School Road
3
Turn right onto Simpson Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Simpson Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 322
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
51 mi·54 min·Keystone Shortway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
8
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
10
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 54 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are no formal stops required on this 119.9-mile journey, you can easily drive the entire stretch in one go without needing extended breaks. Keep in mind that the local nature of the roads means your speed will likely fluctuate, so build in a little extra cushion if you are on a tight schedule. Before heading out, ensure your tank is ready for the $20 fuel cost to avoid unnecessary mid-trip stops. A smart tip for this route is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the lack of highway travel means you will need to keep a close eye on your navigation throughout the trip.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.3 miles from Henderson, PA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.8 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
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 Henderson, 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 Henderson, PA
This is one driving day of about 122.5 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Henderson, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 79 for about 65.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 122.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 322 / Route 322
At end of road, turn right onto US 322 / Route 322
Navigation decision point
4
53.1 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward I 79 North: Erie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 79 North: Erie
6
119.5 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
5
119.8 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.31 one way
$40.62 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.24
$44.49
premium
$4.93
$23.76
$47.51
diesel
$5.61
$27.05
$54.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.8
0
$12.86
$5.88
Efficient EV
30.6
0
$10.72
$4.90
EV Truck/SUV
49
0
$17.15
$7.84
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Henderson, PA
Morning
in Henderson on Tuesday
Local time
8:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
8:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
19 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 18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that stays entirely off the major interstates. With a highway share of 0%, this route prioritizes local roads over high-speed travel, offering a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. You will navigate winding segments that require your full attention compared to a standard highway cruise. Without any designated long, uninterrupted stretches, the path remains consistently engaging. Prepare for a road environment that prioritizes local navigation rather than a high-speed, monotonous commute.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.8 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near US 322 / Route 322.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (US 322 / Route 322): Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 119.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 65.8 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (US 322 / Route 322): Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 119.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Erie, PA before heading back.
