Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 23m
Distance
312.4 mi
503 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Simpson, PA
Haneul Trac
Erie to Simpson is 312.4 miles and takes about 6h 23m via Southern Tier Expressway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, primarily in Pennsylvania, for its entirety. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it a solid choice for a single-day drive. If you're looking for efficiency and a clear path, this route delivers.
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
156.2 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 312.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Expect a highway-dominated experience, with 93% of the drive on major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Southern Tier Expressway, including one uninterrupted stretch of 249.5 miles. This means consistent speeds and minimal slowdowns for most of the journey. While predominantly highway, the route utilizes I-81 and the Hopkins-Bowser Highway, offering a predictable and efficient travel profile.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 81. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 8th Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 268.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto East 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 86 East: Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward PA 92: Lenox
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto PA 92 / State Route 92
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 249.5 mi | 4h 50m |
| I 81 | 29.8 mi | 34m |
| Hopkins-Bowser Highway | 7 mi | 8m |
| State Route 2014 | 4.4 mi | 10m |
| Bayfront Connector | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| AMVETS Memorial Highway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| State Route 106 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Owego Turnpike | 1.7 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Simpson, PA.
Start on State Street
Turn left onto East 8th Street
Turn right onto East Bayfront Parkway
Continue on PA 290
Continue on PA 290; PA 430
Take the exit
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on I 86
Continue on I 86; NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 92
Turn left onto PA 106
Turn left onto State Route 2014
Continue on PA 247
Continue on PA 247
Turn straight onto SR 1007
Continue on SR 1007
Turn left onto Owego Turnpike
Turn straight onto PA 171
Arrive at destination
Given the 6h 23m estimated drive time, starting early is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, the longest stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway is 249.5 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before hitting that long segment. The total fuel cost is estimated at $52, so be sure your tank is adequately filled before departing Erie. This is a drive that can comfortably be completed in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an overnight stop roughly halfway.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 69 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.2 miles or 3h 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 5h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simpson, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Erie, 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 Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 312.4 miles and 6h 23m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 156.2 mi from Erie, PA · 3h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
156 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.
A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 156.2 miles from Erie, 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 249.5 miles.
The final approach into Simpson, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Simpson, PA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$51.79 one way
$103.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $56.72 | $113.45 |
| premium | $4.93 | $60.59 | $121.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.97 | $137.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
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
$52
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.7 | 1 | $32.80 | $15.00 |
| Efficient EV | 78.1 | 0 | $27.33 | $12.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125 | 1 | $43.74 | $19.99 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Erie on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Simpson on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Erie, PA or browse trips ending in Simpson, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
