Origin
Wellsboro, PA
Afternoon in Wellsboro on Sunday
Local time
1:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wellsboro, PA to Erie, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
176.5 mi
284 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 55m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 15m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wellsboro, PA
Michael Taccetta
Erie, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 176.5-mile drive from Wellsboro, PA to Erie, PA, estimated to take 4 hours and 8 minutes, is a straightforward journey primarily through Pennsylvania's Northeast region. It's definitely manageable as a single-day trip, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick transfer between these two points. With an estimated fuel cost of $29, the budget for this route is quite reasonable. The drive utilizes a mix of roads, including the Southern Tier Expressway and the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, offering a varied driving experience.
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
88.3 miles from Wellsboro, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 77.1 mi | 1h 30m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 18 mi | 25m |
| Steer Brook Road | 16.6 mi | 29m |
| PA 49 | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| South Brookland Road | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| Hopkins-Bowser Highway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Pinecreek Road | 5.3 mi | 9m |
| Bayfront Connector | 4.4 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Southern Tier Expressway
— 77.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellsboro, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 660
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on PA 660
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avenue
3
Continue on PA 660
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 660
4
Continue on PA 362
5.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Pinecreek Road
5
Turn left onto US 6
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
6
Continue on US 6
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
East Main Street
7
Continue on US 6
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
8
Turn right onto PA 449
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
South Brookland Road
9
Turn sharp left onto PA 49
11 mi
·
14 min
·
PA 49
10
Turn right onto PA 44
17 mi
·
29 min
·
Steer Brook Road
11
Turn left onto PA 44
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Academy Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto PA 44
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Oswayo Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto PA 44
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Ceres Road
14
Continue on PA 44
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 44
15
Continue on PA 44
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Ceres Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto NY 417
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Portville-Ceres Road
17
Continue on NY 305; NY 417
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
18
Continue on NY 417
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Olean-Portville Road
19
Continue on NY 417
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Street
20
Enter roundabout onto NY 16
36 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Union Street
21
Continue on NY 16
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Union Street
22
Enter roundabout onto NY 16
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Union Street
23
Continue on NY 16
477 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Union Street
24
Enter roundabout onto NY 16
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Union Street
25
Continue on NY 16
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Union Street
26
Enter roundabout onto Wayne Street
176 ft
·
3 sec
·
Wayne Street
27
Continue on Wayne Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Wayne Street
28
Continue on Buffalo Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Buffalo Street
29
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
30
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
77 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
31
Continue on I 86
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Hopkins-Bowser Highway
32
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-90: Erie
33
Merge onto I 90
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
AMVETS Memorial Highway
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 32
Toward PA 290, PA 430: Wesleyville, Bayfront Connector
35
Turn right onto PA 290; PA 430
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Station Road
36
Continue on PA 290
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Bayfront Connector
Use the straight lane.
37
Continue on East Bayfront Parkway
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Bayfront Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Turn left onto East 10th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 10th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Turn right onto State Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
State Street
40
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer 77.1-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services might be less frequent. Planning your departure around avoiding peak traffic in Wellsboro or Erie can also smooth out your arrival.
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 88.3 miles from Wellsboro, PA, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.1 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 39 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 2h 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 3h 24m
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 Wellsboro, 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 Wellsboro, PA
This is one driving day of about 176.5 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Wellsboro, 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 77.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Wellsboro, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 35.6 and 169.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
35.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
PA 49
Turn sharp left onto PA 49
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
79 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
NY 16 / North Union Street
Enter roundabout onto NY 16 / North Union Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
79.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
NY 16 / North Union Street
Enter roundabout onto NY 16 / North Union Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
79.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
Wayne Street
Enter roundabout onto Wayne Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
169.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 53m 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
$29.26 one way
$58.52 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $32.05 | $64.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $34.23 | $68.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.97 | $77.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.53 | $8.47 |
| Efficient EV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.44 | $7.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.71 | $11.30 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Erie, PA
Afternoon in Erie on Sunday
Local time
1:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Widespread Fog
SW 2 to 7 mph
38% chance
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
3 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 8m 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?
The road character here is a mixed drive, with 52% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 77.1 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. The inclusion of roads like Steer Brook Road suggests a transition from faster-paced highway driving to more local routes as you progress. This blend means you'll experience both efficient travel and more varied road conditions.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.1 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 23 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 35.6 miles in near PA 49.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 176.5 miles you will encounter 23 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 35.6 miles (PA 49): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 79 miles (NY 16 / North Union Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 79.1 miles (NY 16 / North Union Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 4h 8m. Total distance: 176.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.1 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.
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 35.6 miles (PA 49): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 79 miles (NY 16 / North Union Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 79.1 miles (NY 16 / North Union Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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