Carthage, NY to Syracuse, NY is 85.1 miles and takes about 1h 50m via I 81, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so it's a practical choice for getting from A to B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Carthage, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
62.2 mi
1h 12m
State Street
13.5 mi
20m
Washington Street
2.6 mi
4m
State Highway 232
2.1 mi
3m
Thompson Boulevard
1.4 mi
3m
Champion Street
0.6 mi
1m
I-81
0.5 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 62.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on NY 126
0.2 mi·19 sec·State Street
2
Continue on NY 126
0.2 mi·18 sec·Bridge Street
3
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·55 sec·North Main Street
4
Continue on Champion Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Champion Street
5
Continue on NY 126
13 mi·20 min·State Street
6
Turn left onto Park Drive
0.1 mi·21 sec·Park Drive
7
Enter roundabout onto Thompson Boulevard
197 ft·6 sec·Thompson Boulevard
8
Continue on Thompson Boulevard
1.3 mi·3 min·Thompson Boulevard
9
Turn left onto US 11
2.6 mi·4 min·Washington Street
10
Turn right onto NY 232
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 232
11
Continue on County Road 62
0.1 mi·16 sec·County Road 62
12
Turn left onto Cady Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Cady Road
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 81 South
14
Merge onto I 81
55 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I-81
0.5 mi·33 sec·I-81
16
Continue on I 81
7.6 mi·9 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
251 ft·7 sec
Exit 19Toward Clinton Street, Salina StreetUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Salina StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto North Salina Street
501 ft·20 sec·North Salina Street
20
Turn left onto East Willow Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·East Willow Street
21
Turn right onto US 11
0.4 mi·45 sec·North State Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1h 50m, this is easily a same-day trip, offering flexibility for when you want to depart. You can leave Carthage, NY any time of day and still arrive in Syracuse, NY with plenty of daylight to spare. Since the longest stretch is over 60 miles, consider a brief stop if you like, but it's not strictly necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Syracuse; while the estimated fuel cost is low at $14, it's always good practice to be aware of your range, especially when navigating city streets.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.6 miles from Carthage, NY, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.2 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 19 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Syracuse, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carthage, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carthage, NY
This is one driving day of about 85.1 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Carthage, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 62.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.9 and 84.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14.9 mi into trip|~23m in|Thompson Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto Thompson Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
21.4 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the ramp toward I 81 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 81 South
8
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward Clinton Street, Salina Street
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 19
Toward Clinton Street, Salina Street
8
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Salina Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Salina Street
6
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|US 11 / North State Street
Turn right onto US 11 / North State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.01 one way
$28.02 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$15.15
$30.29
premium
$4.92
$16.49
$32.99
diesel
$5.61
$18.79
$37.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.5
0
$8.94
$4.08
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.45
$3.40
EV Truck/SUV
34
0
$11.91
$5.45
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Carthage, NY
Morning
in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
11:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Morning
in Syracuse on Sunday
Local time
11:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 2 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
8 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
1h 50m 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.
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 82.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip leans heavily into highway driving, with 76% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 81. Expect a fairly continuous experience on the highway, especially during the longest stretch of 62.2 miles on I 81. While the primary focus is on efficient travel, you'll navigate through portions of State Street and Washington Street as you approach and depart your destinations. The character remains largely consistent, prioritizing speed and directness over varied scenery.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.2 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and State Street. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.9 miles in near Thompson Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 85.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 14.9 miles (Thompson Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 84.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 85.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.2 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 14.9 miles (Thompson Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 84.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Syracuse, NY before heading back.
