Mansfield, PA to Erie, PA is 215.6 miles and takes about 4h 21m via Southern Tier Expressway, Appalachian Thruway, and Hopkins-Bowser Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, predominantly highway drive that's well-suited for a single day of travel. If you're looking for a direct path between these two points with minimal fuss, this route should fit the bill.
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
107.8 miles from Mansfield, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~527 veh/hr typical
· worst 690
Quietest
2 AM
~31 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 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 Mansfield, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on US 6
181 ft·10 sec·East Wellsboro Street
2
Turn right onto US 15 BUS
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 99; US 15
25 mi·28 min·Appalachian Thruway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15
0.9 mi·1 min·US 15
Exit 12Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Jamestown, Rochester
6
Merge onto I 86
23 mi·26 min·Southern Tier Expressway
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 32Toward 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 4h 21m estimated drive time, leaving Mansfield, PA in the morning will comfortably get you to Erie, PA before evening. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 162.2-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services might be more spaced out. Planning your fuel stops before hitting that longer highway segment is a smart move.
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 107.8 miles from Mansfield, PA, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.2 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.8 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 29m
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 Mansfield, 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 Mansfield, PA
This is one driving day of about 215.6 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Mansfield, 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 162.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 214.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
27.1 mi into trip|~31m in|US 15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15 toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Jamestown, Rochester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 12
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Jamestown, Roches...
6
50.7 mi into trip|~1h 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
203.9 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-90: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-90: Erie
6
208.5 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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...
5
214.2 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|East 10th Street
Turn left onto East 10th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.38 one way
$68.75 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$38.04
$76.09
premium
$4.81
$40.81
$81.62
diesel
$4.80
$40.71
$81.42
Estimated Tolls: $1.78
Appalachian Thruway
(25.4 mi)$1.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.7
0
$22.64
$10.35
Efficient EV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.62
EV Truck/SUV
86.2
1
$30.18
$13.80
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Mansfield, PA
Morning
in Mansfield on Monday
Local time
7:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 12 mph96% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:29PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:26PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Erie, PA
Morning
in Erie on Monday
Local time
7:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Patchy Smoke
NW 9 to 13 mph65% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:29PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:26PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS State College PA
77°F
Cuba, NY
108 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
6 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
4h 21m 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 be on the highway for about 78% of this 215.6-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 162.2 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway. Expect a largely highway experience, which means you'll encounter a higher density of exits and potentially faster cruising speeds for significant portions of the drive. The transition to more surface road driving will occur after you've covered that substantial highway mileage.
78% 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: 162.2 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Appalachian Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in near US 15.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 215.6 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 27.1 miles (US 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles (I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,724 ft653 ft
Total Climb
1,203 ft
Total Descent
1,701 ft
Highest Point
1,724 ft
~184.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,071 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mansfield, PA to Erie, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Rochester along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 215.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 162.2 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.78 in tolls one way, starting with Appalachian Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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.
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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (US 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles (I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
