This 142.9-mile journey from Orchard Hills to Erie, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 51 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-79 and US 422, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 89% of it being interstate or major highway. With a projected fuel cost of around $24, it's an economical option for a day trip. The drive is contained within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a consistent travel experience. Plan for a single stop along the way to break up the drive. This trip is ideal for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
71.4 miles from Orchard Hills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
83.6 mi
1h 29m
US 422
36.4 mi
49m
Dime Road
7.8 mi
8m
PA 66
7.1 mi
8m
North Warren Avenue
2.4 mi
2m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
1st Street
1.9 mi
2m
State Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 83.6 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orchard Hills, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on Florida Avenue
81 ft·7 sec·Florida Avenue
2
Turn left onto PA 56
1.9 mi·2 min·1st Street
3
Turn right onto PA 56; PA 66
0.2 mi·10 sec·Kiski Avenue
4
Continue on PA 56; PA 66
2.4 mi·2 min·North Warren Avenue
5
Turn right onto PA 66 ALT
7.8 mi·8 min·Dime Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto PA 66
6.8 mi·7 min·PA 66
7
Take the exit onto PA 66
0.3 mi·39 sec·PA 66
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
9
Merge onto US 422; PA 28; PA 66
36 mi·49 min·US 422; PA 28; PA 66
10
Turn left
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 79 North: Erie
11
Merge onto I 79
84 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
13
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 51-minute duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Orchard Hills to maximize your time in Erie. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $24, you can be flexible with your timing. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 83.6 miles on I-79, so plan for a brief rest stop before or during that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when leaving major highway sections like I-79.
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 71.4 miles from Orchard Hills, PA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.6 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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.4 miles or 1h 30m 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 19m
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 Orchard Hills, 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 Orchard Hills, PA
This is one driving day of about 142.9 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Orchard Hills, 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 I 79 for about 83.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.4 and 142.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
19.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
139.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m 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
140.1 mi into trip|~2h 44m 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
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.69 one way
$47.38 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$25.95
$51.89
premium
$4.93
$27.71
$55.43
diesel
$5.61
$31.55
$63.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.9
0
$15.00
$6.86
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.50
$5.72
EV Truck/SUV
57.2
0
$20.01
$9.15
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 19, 2026
Origin
Orchard Hills, PA
Late night
in Orchard Hills on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Late night
in Erie on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 142.9-mile trip, with 89% of the route on high-speed roads like I-79 and US 422. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 83.6 miles on I-79, so settling in for a solid period of driving is part of the plan. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of roads like Dime Road suggests some variation might occur as you approach your destination. This drive prioritizes direct travel over winding scenic byways, making it a functional and predictable route for covering distance efficiently.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.6 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and US 422. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.4 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 142.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 19.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 56.3 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 142.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.6 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 19.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 56.3 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.9 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.
