Origin
State College, PA
Evening in State College on Sunday
Local time
8:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 30m
Distance
110.9 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
State College, PA
Jay Brand
York, PA
Gundula Vogel
Traveling from State College to York covers approximately 110.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, making an overnight stay unnecessary unless you have specific business or events to attend. You should budget roughly $18 for fuel to complete the trek. The route keeps you entirely within Pennsylvania, navigating from the heart of the Northeast region down toward York. It is a straightforward connection that balances local driving with interstate travel, offering a practical way to traverse the state without a major time commitment.
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
55.5 miles from State College, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend 19% of your time on highways, much of the journey relies on navigating General Potter Highway and Boal Avenue. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 79.4 miles on the General Potter Highway, which serves as the backbone of your trip before you transition onto I-83. The road’s personality shifts from local corridors to the more controlled environment of the interstate, so stay alert for changing speed limits and traffic patterns. It is an engaging drive that requires you to stay active at the wheel throughout the duration.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 322 Business / South Atherton Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.9 miles (US 322 Business / South Atherton Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 87.5 miles (I 83): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 322 Business / South Atherton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 83 South: York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 83
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 83 toward I 83 South: York, Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 Business, PA 181
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from State College, PA to York, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Baltimore along the way.
Baltimore
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| General Potter Highway | 79.4 mi | 1h 42m |
| I 83 | 21.1 mi | 25m |
| Boal Avenue | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| South Atherton Street | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| North George Street | 2 mi | 5m |
| South Allen Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Paxton Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 13th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between State College, PA and York, PA.
Start on South Allen Street
Turn left onto US 322 Business
Turn right onto US 322 Business
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
Turn left onto Paxton Street
Turn right onto South 13th Street
Take the exit
Merge onto I 83
Keep slight right at fork onto I 83
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto I 83 BUS; PA 181
Arrive at destination
Since the trip is only 2.5 hours long, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for one well-timed stop will make the journey more comfortable. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the local roads means you should prioritize a vehicle check before heading out to ensure you are ready for the varied terrain. If you find yourself needing a break, use your single recommended stop to stretch your legs after the long 79.4-mile stint on General Potter Highway. Always monitor your fuel levels before leaving State College to avoid unnecessary stops. Taking your time during the local portions of the drive will help you manage the transition to the faster-paced I-83 sections more smoothly.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 17m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving State College, 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 State College, PA
This is one driving day of about 110.9 miles and 2h 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.5 mi from State College, PA · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 55.5 miles from State College, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before General Potter Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.4 miles.
The final approach into York, 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 York, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$18.35 one way
$36.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $20.08 | $40.16 |
| premium | $4.92 | $21.49 | $42.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.64 | $49.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.64 | $5.32 |
| Efficient EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.70 | $4.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.53 | $7.10 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in State College on Sunday
Local time
8:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in York on Sunday
Local time
8:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
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.
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