Amherst, NY to South Farmingdale, NY is 409.2 miles and takes about 8h 31m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Given the distance and duration, it's a solid two-day drive, allowing for a more relaxed pace. You'll encounter a mix of major highways and surface roads. Plan for two stops along the way to break up the 8.5 hours of driving time.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
204.6 miles from Amherst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
99.4 mi
1h 54m
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Southern State Parkway
16.8 mi
21m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 99.4 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and South Farmingdale, NY.
1
Start on NY 263
0.4 mi·50 sec·Millersport Highway
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 290 E
3
Merge onto I 290
2.4 mi·3 min·Youngmann Expressway
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·57 sec
Exit 1-49Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 90
99 mi·1 hr 54 min·New York State Thruway
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
8
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
9
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
11
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
13
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
14
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
15
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
16
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
17
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
18
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
19
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
20
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
21
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
22
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
23
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
25
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
30
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
31
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
33
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
35
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
37
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
39
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
40
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
42
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
44
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
46
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
48
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
49
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
52
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
53
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
54
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
55
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
56
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
58
Merge onto SO
17 mi·21 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 32NToward NY 110 North: HuntingtonUse the slight right lane.
60
Turn straight onto NY 110
0.3 mi·26 sec·Broadway
61
Turn left onto CR 47
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
62
Turn right onto Staples Street
95 ft·2 sec·Staples Street
63
Arrive at destination
Staples Street
Trip Plan
With an 8h 31m estimated drive time, it's highly recommended to split this trip over two days. Aim to start early on your first day to cover a good portion of the 409.2 miles. You have two stops planned, which is a good number for breaking up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're on the surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on the Thruway. The approximate fuel cost is $75, so budget accordingly. Consider ending your first day's drive around the halfway point or a bit further to make the second day manageable.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 204.6 miles from Amherst, NY, or about 4h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 90 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 204.6 miles or 4h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 204.6 miles or 4h 19m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Farmingdale, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Amherst, NY
Aim for roughly 205 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into South Farmingdale, NY
Aim for roughly 205 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Amherst, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 99.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 43
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 368.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
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
8
103.1 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
253.4 mi into trip|~5h 17m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
368 mi into trip|~7h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
368.2 mi into trip|~7h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.20 one way
$132.39 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg143 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$71.84
$143.67
premium
$4.85
$78.10
$156.20
diesel
$4.80
$77.26
$154.53
Estimated Tolls: $27.52
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(99.4 mi)$4.97
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
$66
Tolls
$28
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 143.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
122.8
1
$42.97
$19.64
Efficient EV
102.3
1
$35.81
$16.37
EV Truck/SUV
163.7
2
$57.29
$26.19
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Amherst, NY
Late night
in Amherst on Tuesday
Local time
5:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Patchy Smoke then Sunny
NW 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:54PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
South Farmingdale, NY
Late night
in South Farmingdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
NW 8 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:54PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
7 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
8h 31m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 366.9
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 366.9
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 112.9
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 112.9
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 366.9
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 366.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 44% highway driving. You'll spend a significant portion on surface roads, with the longest continuous highway stretch being 99.4 miles on the New York State Thruway. Expect to transition from faster-paced highway cruising to more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you move off the main thoroughfares. The profile is mostly surface roads, so be prepared for varied speed limits and more varied driving conditions.
Only 44% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
63 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.4 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 43 significant decision points across 409.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 103.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,792 ft17 ft
Total Climb
2,384 ft
Total Descent
2,921 ft
Highest Point
1,792 ft
~263.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,775 ft
Notable High Points
1,792 ft at ~263.1 miles+611 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Amherst, NY and South Farmingdale, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.4 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 205 miles on day one.
Expect about $27.52 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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 39 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Farmingdale, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 39 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Farmingdale, NY before the return drive.
