Origin
Auburn, NY
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, NY to Syracuse, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward connection between Auburn and Syracuse, this 29.3-mile trip is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 40 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect day trip that leaves you plenty of time at your destination. You will navigate primarily via Arterial East, Grant Avenue, and State Route 5, keeping your travel expenses low with an estimated fuel cost of just $5. Since the entire route is located within the Northeast, you won't experience significant regional transitions. This drive is highly practical for those who prefer local roads over the highway system. It serves as a reliable link for travelers moving between these two New York hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Avenue | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| State Route 5 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| I 690 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| West Genesee Turnpike | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| NY 695 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Arterial East | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Genesee Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Grant Avenue
— 6.9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on NY 34; NY 38
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Street
2
Turn right onto US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial East
3
Continue on NY 5
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Grant Avenue
4
Continue on NY 5
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 5
5
Continue on NY 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
6
Continue on NY 5
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 5
7
Continue on NY 5
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Genesee Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on NY 174
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
West Genesee Turnpike
9
Take the ramp
4.9 mi
·
5 min
Toward NY 5
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward NY 695 North
11
Continue on NY 695
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
NY 695
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 690 East
13
Merge onto I 690
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 690
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Genesee Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on NY 5
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
James Street
18
Turn right onto NY 5
317 ft
·
11 sec
·
Oswego Boulevard
19
Continue on NY 5
524 ft
·
18 sec
·
Erie Boulevard East
20
Turn right onto US 11
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South State Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Arrive at destination
US 11
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 23.2 and 28.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
23.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 690 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 690 East
5
24 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 690
Merge onto I 690
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
27.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown
8
27.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 11 / South State Street
Turn right onto US 11 / South State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.69 one way
$9.38 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $5.07 | $10.15 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.52 | $11.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
West Genesee Turnpike
(2.6 mi)
$0.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Late night in Syracuse on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
39m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will be navigating surface streets and local roads for the entirety of the 29.3-mile journey. Because the path relies on Grant Avenue and State Route 5, you should anticipate a more interactive experience behind the wheel compared to a high-speed expressway. The road’s personality is defined by its local character, requiring your full attention as you transition through various intersections and turns. This drive provides a steady, hands-on pace that keeps you engaged throughout the 40-minute duration.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.9 mi on Grant Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 23.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 28.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 24 miles (I 690): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Auburn, NY
Full guide →Founded 1793
Auburn is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Top landmarks
- • St. Peter's Episcopal Church Complex — historic church in Auburn, New York, United States
- • Harriet Tubman grave — grave of Harriet Tubman
- • Shines Auburn Theater — former movie theater in Auburn, New York, United States
Arriving in Syracuse, NY
Full guide →Founded 1848
Syracuse is a city in Central New York. With a population of 149,000 in city proper and 662,000 in its metro area (2020), Syracuse is the fifth largest city in the state of New York, and the third largest in Upstate New York.
Top landmarks
- • Oncenter War Memorial Arena — arena in Syracuse, New York
- • Everson Museum of Art — art museum in Syracuse, New York
- • Niagara Mohawk Building — historic commercial building in New York, United States
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 39m. Total distance: 28.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.9 miles on Grant Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 in tolls one way, starting with West Genesee Turnpike. 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.
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 Syracuse, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 24 miles (I 690): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Syracuse, NY before heading back.
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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