Trip from Amherst, NY to Owego, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 48m

Distance

183 mi

294 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 35m ★

6 AM

3h 48m

8 AM

4h 14m

10 AM

3h 57m

12 PM

3h 55m

3 PM

3h 58m

5 PM

4h 12m

8 PM

3h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Amherst, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Owego, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 183-mile journey from Amherst, NY to Owego, NY is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in under four hours. With an estimated fuel cost of $30, it's an economical option for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The route primarily utilizes the Southern Tier Expressway and the New York State Thruway, suggesting a consistent, relatively fast pace. You'll be spending about 65% of your time on highways, making this a practical choice if you're looking to cover ground efficiently within the Northeast region. This drive is designed for getting from point A to point B without unnecessary 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

91.5 miles from Amherst, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Southern Tier Expressway	78.3 mi	1h 30m
Genesee Expressway	38.2 mi	44m
New York State Thruway	29.8 mi	34m
Ellicott Street	10.3 mi	15m
Genesee Street	8.8 mi	13m
Big Tree Road	4.1 mi	6m
Geneseo-Mount Morris Road	3.3 mi	4m
Youngmann Expressway	2.4 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Southern Tier Expressway — 78.3 mi, about 1h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and Owego, NY.

Start on NY 263

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Millersport Highway

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward I 290 E

Merge onto I 290

2.4 mi · 3 min · Youngmann Expressway

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 57 sec

Exit 1-49 Toward I 90 East: Albany Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 90

30 mi · 34 min · New York State Thruway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Exit 48 Toward NY 98: Batavia Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 20 sec

Turn left onto NY 98

1.1 mi · 2 min · Oak Street

Turn left onto NY 5; NY 33; NY 63

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Turn right onto Cedar Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Cedar Street

At end of road, turn left onto NY 63

10 mi · 15 min · Ellicott Street

Continue on NY 63

4.1 mi · 6 min · Big Tree Road

Continue on NY 63

0.7 mi · 54 sec · State Highway 63

Continue on NY 63

7.5 mi · 11 min · Genesee Street

Enter roundabout onto NY 63

108 ft · 1 sec · Genesee Street

Continue on NY 63

1.3 mi · 1 min · Genesee Street

Merge onto US 20A; NY 39; NY 63

3.3 mi · 4 min · Geneseo-Mount Morris Road

Continue on NY 408

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Mount Morris-Geneseo Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Merge onto I 390

38 mi · 44 min · Genesee Expressway

Merge onto I 86

78 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Southern Tier Expressway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 48 sec

Exit 64 Toward NY 96: Owego

Turn left onto NY 96

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Southside Drive

Turn left onto NY 96

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Susquehanna River Bridge Road

Continue on Susquehanna River Bridge Road

81 ft · 3 sec · Susquehanna River Bridge Road

Turn slight left onto NY 17C; NY 96

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Court Street

Turn right onto NY 96

139 ft · 2 sec · Main Street

Arrive at destination

NY 96

Trip Plan

Given the manageable 3-hour and 48-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving early in the morning to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially as you'll be on the highway for a significant portion. With only one suggested stop and a $30 fuel estimate, planning is relatively simple. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the longest stretch of 78.3 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway, to ensure you don't need to make an unplanned stop. The highway-focused nature means rest areas are generally well-spaced.

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 91.5 miles from Amherst, NY, or about 2h 1m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.3 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 40 miles or 53m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 91.5 miles or 2h 1m 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 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Owego, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Amherst, NY 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 Amherst, NY

This is one driving day of about 183 miles and 3h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Amherst, NY.

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 78.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Howard, NY

92 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

Le Roy, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Howard, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.5 miles from Amherst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break · home stretch

Roasted Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Owego, New York

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+16072231652

Visit website

Roasted Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Owego, New York

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+16072231652

Visit website

EVolve NY Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Owego, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Horseheads, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corfu, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18885577099

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Dansville, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EvGateway Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Owego, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19499452000

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Elmira, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Clarence, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18885577099

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Painted Post, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Nichols Rest Area

0 mi from route

Campbell Rest Area

0 mi from route

Mount Morris Rest Area

0 mi from route

Pembroke Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Owego Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Geneseo Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Clarence Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Kanona Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Erwin Text Zone / Parking Area

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Farmland Animal Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Chemung, New York

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+16075293371

Visit website

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 10:30 am–2:30 pm

+17168563858

Visit website

Billy Wilson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Williamsville, New York

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17166317132

Visit website

The Buffalo Zoo

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17168373900

Visit website

Delaware Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17168381249

Visit website

5 Wits Buffalo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 12–8 pm

+17162730600

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 181.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Albany

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 1-49 Toward I 90 East: Albany

33.5 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward NY 98: Batavia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 48 Toward NY 98: Batavia

34.1 mi into trip | ~41m in | NY 98 / Oak Street

Turn left onto NY 98 / Oak Street

Navigation decision point

37.6 mi into trip | ~49m in | NY 63 / Ellicott Street

At end of road, turn left onto NY 63 / Ellicott Street

Navigation decision point

181.9 mi into trip | ~3h 45m in

Take the exit toward NY 96: Owego

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 64 Toward NY 96: Owego

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.12 one way

$60.25 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$32.57	$65.15
premium	$4.92	$35.47	$70.94
diesel	$5.61	$40.40	$80.81

Estimated Tolls: $1.49

New York State Thruway (29.8 mi) $1.49

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

$30

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	54.9	$19.22	$8.78
Efficient EV	45.8	$16.01	$7.32
EV Truck/SUV	73.2	$25.62	$11.71

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Amherst, NY

Morning in Amherst on Tuesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 14 to 21 mph 86% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 1:15PM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

Destination

Owego, NY

Morning in Owego on Tuesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Partly Sunny

S 16 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 1:15PM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

42°F

Howard, NY

92 mi in

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

2 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

3h 48m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-centric experience on this route, with 65% of the drive taking place on expressways like the Southern Tier Expressway and New York State Thruway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is approximately 78.3 miles, providing a substantial period of consistent driving. While the Genesee Expressway offers some variation, the overall profile is one of steady progress on well-maintained roads. This isn't a winding, scenic byway; it's built for efficient travel, allowing you to maintain a good speed for most of the 3-hour and 48-minute duration.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 78.3 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Genesee Expressway. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.

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 183 miles you will encounter 18 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 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.1 miles (NY 98 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point.

About the Cities

Starting in Amherst, NY

Full guide →

Amherst is a town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.

Top landmarks

• Entranceway at Main Street at Roycroft Boulevard — residential landscape feature in Amherst, New York state, USA
• Entranceways at Main Street at Lamarck Drive and Smallwood Drive — residential landscape feature in Amherst, New York state, USA

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 3h 48m. Total distance: 183 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 78.3 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.49 in tolls one way, starting with New York State Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Owego, NY, 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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Explore more options from Amherst, NY or browse trips ending in Owego, NY.

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Trip from Amherst, NY to Owego, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Roasted Coffee Bar

Roasted Coffee Bar

EVolve NY Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EvGateway Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Nichols Rest Area

Campbell Rest Area

Mount Morris Rest Area

Pembroke Travel Plaza

TA

Pilot Travel Center

TA

Owego Rest Area

Geneseo Rest Area

Clarence Travel Plaza

Kanona Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Erwin Text Zone / Parking Area

Flying J Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Service Plaza

Farmland Animal Park

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House

Billy Wilson Park

The Buffalo Zoo

Delaware Park

5 Wits Buffalo

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Amherst, NY

Owego, NY

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 48m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Amherst, NY

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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