East Amherst, NY to Yonkers, NY is 371.7 miles and takes about 7h 49m via I 86 and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a solid one-day drive, mostly on major highways, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points. You'll want to factor in a couple of stops to break up the nearly 8-hour travel time.
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
185.9 miles from East Amherst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
129.9 mi
2h 40m
New York State Thruway
106.5 mi
2h 4m
I 81
45.4 mi
54m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~952 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,382
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 17 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 East Amherst, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on NY 78
4.9 mi·7 min·Transit Road
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 90Use the right lane.
3
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·23 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 90
96 mi·1 hr 51 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
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi·9 min·US 6
Exit 130AToward US 6: Bear Mountain
28
Enter roundabout
346 ft·4 sec
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
29
Continue
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
30
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
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.
32
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi·12 min·New York State Thruway
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 7AToward Saw Mill River Parkway SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi·10 min·Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward West Yonkers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
37
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Yonkers Avenue
38
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·57 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
39
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft·5 sec·South Broadway
Use the left lane.
40
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
Given the 7 hour and 49 minute estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip comfortably in one day. Plan for at least two stops to stretch your legs and refuel; the longest stretch without a major break is nearly 130 miles on I 86. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 129.9-mile mark on I 86, to avoid needing an unplanned stop. The $61 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices along your specific path. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility in deciding when to depart.
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 185.9 miles from East Amherst, NY, or about 3h 57m 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 82 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.9 miles or 3h 57m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yonkers, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East 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 East Amherst, NY
This is one driving day of about 371.7 miles and 7h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from East 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 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 362.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.3 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Albany
8
101.9 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
198.8 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
351.5 mi into trip|~7h 20m 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...
7
362.2 mi into trip|~7h 35m in
Take the exit toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.06 one way
$130.12 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$70.51
$141.01
premium
$5.23
$76.54
$153.07
diesel
$6.28
$91.84
$183.68
Estimated Tolls: $5.32
New York State Thruway
(106.5 mi)$5.32
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
$65
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.5
1
$39.03
$17.84
Efficient EV
92.9
1
$32.52
$14.87
EV Truck/SUV
148.7
1
$52.04
$23.79
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
East Amherst, NY
Late night
in East Amherst on Thursday
Local time
4:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
S 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Late night
in Yonkers on Thursday
Local time
4:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
53°F
Hamilton, NY
186 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
4 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
7h 49m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 115.4
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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 102.5
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 371.7
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 371.7
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 371.7
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 371.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 60% of this drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 129.9 miles on I 86. You'll encounter a mixed highway and surface road profile for much of the 371.7 miles. Expect to see a high density of exits and merges as you navigate through various sections of the New York State Thruway and other major routes. This means you'll be transitioning between faster highway speeds and potentially slower surface roads.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 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 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 5.3 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 28 significant decision points across 371.7 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 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.8 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,517 ft86 ft
Total Climb
1,822 ft
Total Descent
2,329 ft
Highest Point
1,517 ft
~279.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,431 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Amherst, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
Yonkers is a city of 211,569 people (2020) in Westchester County. The third most populous city in New York state, Yonkers is a suburb of New York City and borders the Borough of the Bronx. Yonkers is known as the "City of Seven Hills," which are Park, Nodine, Ridge, Cross, Locust, Glen, and Church hills.
Top landmarks
•Untermyer Park — public garden
•Hudson River Museum — museum in Yonkers, N.Y.
•Glenview Mansion — historic house in New York, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 49m. Total distance: 371.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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 $5.32 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 25 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 Yonkers, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.8 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 Hamilton Grange 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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Yonkers, NY before the return drive.
