Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.5 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Fredonia, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Amherst, NY to Fredonia, NY is 53.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 6 minutes via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on major highways before transitioning to more local roads as you approach your destination. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick transit or an afternoon excursion without feeling rushed.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 46.7 mi | 56m |
| Youngmann Expressway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Bennett Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Millersport Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Temple Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and Fredonia, NY.
Start on NY 263
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 290
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Take the exit
Turn left onto NY 60
Enter roundabout onto US 20
Continue on US 20
Turn right onto Temple Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from Amherst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 51.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 90 / New York State Thruway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward NY 60: Dunkirk, Fredonia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto NY 60 / Bennett Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.97 one way
$17.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.63 | $9.74 | $19.49 |
| premium | $5.05 | $10.64 | $21.29 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.79 | $23.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.62 | $2.57 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Morning in Amherst on Friday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Fredonia on Friday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
76°F
Hamburg, NY
27 mi in
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
The majority of this 53.5-mile trip is on highways, with 4% of the drive on major roads like the New York State Thruway and Youngmann Expressway. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 46.7 miles on the New York State Thruway before transitioning to surface roads like Main Street. Expect frequent exits and changes in speed limits as you move from expressway cruising to local street driving.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 90 / New York State Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles (I 90 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
419 ft
Total Descent
288 ft
Highest Point
766 ft
~42 mi in
Elevation Range
169 ft
Amherst is a town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.
Top landmarks
Fredonia is a small town in New York's Southern Tier, near the shores of Lake Erie.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 53.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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