Traveling from Amherst to Suffern covers 347.4 miles and typically takes about 7 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. You will primarily navigate a combination of I-86, the New York State Thruway, and I-81, making this a straightforward trek across the Northeast. While it is technically possible to complete this journey in a single day, the seven-plus hour duration makes for a long haul, so be prepared for a full day of travel. You should budget approximately $57 for fuel to cover the distance. This route is best suited for those who prefer a single-day push to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stay, provided you are comfortable with a mixed driving profile.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
173.7 miles from Amherst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
130.4 mi
2h 40m
New York State Thruway
112.5 mi
2h 10m
I 81
45.4 mi
54m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Genesee Street
5.5 mi
9m
State Route 41
4.8 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 130.4 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and Suffern, 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 left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
130 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
29
Merge onto I 87
13 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 15AToward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, SuffernUse the slight right lane.
31
Turn right onto Old Route 17
0.3 mi·35 sec·Old Route 17
32
Turn right onto NY 59
1.0 mi·1 min·Orange Turnpike
33
Continue on NY 59
0.4 mi·37 sec·Orange Avenue
34
Continue on US 202; 59
273 ft·7 sec·Orange Avenue
35
Turn left onto NY 59
0.3 mi·26 sec·Lafayette Avenue
Use the left lane.
36
Turn slight right onto Washington Avenue
73 ft·1 sec·Washington Avenue
37
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels consistent, plan for at least two designated stops along the way. Given the 7-hour and 16-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you arrive in Suffern before late evening. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 130.4-mile stretch on I-86 to ensure you aren't caught off guard between service areas. Because this is a long single-day trip, utilize your two stops to stretch and reset rather than just fueling up. Being flexible with your departure time can help you avoid peak traffic periods on the more congested sections of the Thruway.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.7 miles from Amherst, NY, or about 3h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.4 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 76 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.7 miles or 3h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffern, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Amherst, NY
This is one driving day of about 347.4 miles and 7h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Amherst, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 130.4 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 345.1 — 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
7
200 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New York
8
330.4 mi into trip|~6h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
8
345.1 mi into trip|~7h 12m in
Take the exit toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern
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 15A
Toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.18 one way
$114.37 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$61.83
$123.67
premium
$4.92
$67.33
$134.67
diesel
$5.61
$76.70
$153.40
Estimated Tolls: $5.69
New York State Thruway
(112.5 mi)$5.62
Orange Turnpike
(1 mi)$0.07
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
$57
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.2
1
$36.48
$16.68
Efficient EV
86.9
0
$30.40
$13.90
EV Truck/SUV
139
1
$48.64
$22.23
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Amherst, NY
Late night
in Amherst on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Suffern, NY
Late night
in Suffern on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Union, NY
174 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
5 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
7h 16m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 119.8
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 107.8
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 347.4
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 347.4
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...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 347.4
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 347.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, with highways accounting for 57% of your total travel time. You will experience a varied road environment, balancing fast-paced interstate travel with segments that require more focused attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 130.4 miles on I-86, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Expect the road's personality to shift as you transition between major arteries and the New York State Thruway. Navigating these different road types ensures the drive remains engaging rather than purely monotonous, though you should remain alert to changing traffic patterns throughout the day.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.4 mi on I 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort9/10
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 24 significant decision points across 347.4 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 200 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Suffern, NY, road signs point toward Clyde and New York.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 16m. Total distance: 347.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.4 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.69 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Suffern, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 200 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and General Grant National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Suffern, NY before the return drive.
