This 266.1-mile journey from Cicero, NY, to New Rochelle, NY, is estimated to take around 4 hours and 22 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost of approximately $43, this route is well within reach for a single day trip. It primarily utilizes local roads and New York state highways, suggesting a more engaging drive than a pure interstate experience. The drive's profile indicates it's a 'Turn-heavy local drive', so be prepared for frequent adjustments. Given the manageable distance and duration, it's perfectly suited for a one-day excursion, allowing you to arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stay. The entire trip remains within the Northeast region and the state of New York.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
131.8 miles from Cicero, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
129.9 mi
2h 40m
I 81
85.1 mi
1h 41m
New York State Thruway
18.1 mi
24m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
US 6
7.1 mi
9m
East Lincoln Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
1.6 mi
2m
I-81
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,058 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,330
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 34 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 Cicero, NY and New Rochelle, NY.
1
Start on US 11
58 ft·6 sec·Brewerton Road
2
Turn left onto NY 31
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Seymour Street
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 81 South
4
Merge onto I 81
1.5 mi·1 min·I 81
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I-81
0.5 mi·33 sec·I-81
6
Continue on I 81
11 mi·14 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I-81
0.8 mi·48 sec·I-81
8
Continue on I 81
73 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi·9 min·US 6
Exit 130AToward US 6: Bear Mountain
11
Enter roundabout
346 ft·4 sec
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
12
Continue
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
13
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 9EToward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway SouthUse the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi·12 min·New York State Thruway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
8.8 mi·11 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 4Toward Cross County Parkway, Mile Square RoadUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto NY 100
0.4 mi·56 sec·Central Park Avenue
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross County Parkway East
20
Merge onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
1.6 mi·2 min·Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 8Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount VernonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto Parkway South
380 ft·15 sec·Parkway South
Toward NY 22
23
Turn right onto NY 22
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Columbus Avenue
24
Turn left onto East Lincoln Avenue
2.1 mi·3 min·East Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto North Avenue
0.3 mi·37 sec·North Avenue
26
Continue on North Avenue
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27
Arrive at destination
North Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 22-minute drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic delays. With a total distance of 266.1 miles and a fuel cost around $43, planning one stop for fuel or a quick break should suffice. Since this is a 'Turn-heavy local drive' with no highway component, pay close attention to your GPS or map for upcoming turns and speed limit changes. The flexibility of a shorter, non-highway route means you can adjust your timing easily if needed, perhaps stopping for a brief look at a local point of interest if time allows.
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 131.8 miles from Cicero, NY, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 58 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.8 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Rochelle, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cicero, 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 Cicero, NY
This is one driving day of about 263.7 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Cicero, 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 I 86 for about 129.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 260.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward I 81 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 81 South
7
86.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
239.4 mi into trip|~4h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, W...
8
257.9 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward Cross County Parkway, Mile Square Road
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 4
Toward Cross County Parkway, Mile Square Road
8
260.4 mi into trip|~5h 21m in
Take the exit toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vern...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.66 one way
$85.32 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$46.29
$92.59
premium
$4.85
$50.33
$100.66
diesel
$4.80
$49.79
$99.58
Estimated Tolls: $0.90
New York State Thruway
(18.1 mi)$0.90
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
$43
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
14 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Syracuse L3s
Syracuse, NY
FLIPTURN
12 DCFC
Syracuse, NY - Destiny USA Drive - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
Efficient EV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.55
EV Truck/SUV
105.5
1
$36.92
$16.88
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Cicero, NY
Late night
in Cicero on Monday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Rochelle, NY
Late night
in New Rochelle on Monday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
N 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
56°F
New Berlin, NY
132 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
9 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
5h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 263.7
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 263.7
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 263.7
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 263.7
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 263.7
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 263.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'Turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 266.1-mile trip, as there is 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a more intricate network of roads, potentially through various towns and communities. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'Turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent changes in direction and speed. You'll likely experience a dynamic driving experience, with an emphasis on local navigation rather than sustained high-speed travel. This type of drive often offers a closer look at the landscapes between your start and end points.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.9 mi on I 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 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 21 significant decision points across 263.7 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 0.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 86.7 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,360 ft0 ft
Total Climb
1,599 ft
Total Descent
1,903 ft
Highest Point
1,360 ft
~150.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,360 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cicero, NY and New Rochelle, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 263.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.9 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.90 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 12 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 New Rochelle, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 86.7 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Rochelle, NY before the return drive.
