Origin
Elma, NY
Morning in Elma on Sunday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elma, NY to Yonkers, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 39m
Distance
362.9 mi
584 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 29m
★
6 AM
7h 39m
8 AM
7h 58m
10 AM
7h 46m
12 PM
7h 44m
3 PM
7h 47m
5 PM
7h 58m
8 PM
7h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elma, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Elma to Yonkers is 362.9 miles and takes about 7h 39m via I 86, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll be spending most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground across the state without too many complications.
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
181.5 miles from Elma, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 129.9 mi | 2h 40m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.6 mi | 37m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| Varysburg Road | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| Big Tree Road | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| New York State Thruway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-86
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,201 veh/hr typical · worst 1,535
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Elma, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on CR 242
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Bowen Road
2
Turn right onto Jamison Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Jamison Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
4
Merge onto NY 400
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Aurora Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 20A, NY 78: East Aurora
6
Turn left onto US 20A; NY 78
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Main Street
7
Continue on US 20A; NY 78
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Big Tree Road
8
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Varysburg Road
9
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Buffalo Road
10
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
West Buffalo Street
11
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Perry Center Road
12
Continue on CR 64
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Perry Road
13
Turn right onto NY 36
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Morris Road
14
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
15
Continue on NY 36
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Sonyea Road
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
17
Merge onto I 390
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Genesee Expressway
18
Merge onto I 86
105 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
130 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
US 6
Exit 130A
Toward US 6: Bear Mountain
21
Enter roundabout
346 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
22
Continue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
23
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Use the right lane.
25
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
New York State Thruway
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
30
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Yonkers Avenue
31
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Nepperhan Avenue
32
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
Use the left lane.
33
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim to depart Elma in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With only two recommended stops, you can plan for one mid-drive break and another closer to Yonkers. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services is nearly 130 miles on I 86. The $59 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you go. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your timing.
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 181.5 miles from Elma, NY, or about 3h 52m 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.5 miles or 3h 52m 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 21m
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 Elma, 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 Elma, NY
This is one driving day of about 362.9 miles and 7h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elma, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
181 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 181.5 miles from Elma, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 190 and 362.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
190 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m 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
342.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 10m 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
353.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 25m 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
7
361.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 36m in
Take the exit toward West Yonkers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
7
362.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 38m in
|
US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.98 one way
$117.96 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
127 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $63.84 | $127.67 |
| premium | $4.87 | $69.52 | $139.04 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $77.19 | $154.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
New York State Thruway
(10.2 mi)
$0.51
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
$59
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 108.9 | 1 | $38.10 | $17.42 |
| Efficient EV | 90.7 | 1 | $31.75 | $14.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 145.2 | 1 | $50.81 | $23.23 |
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Morning in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Montague, NJ
181 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
7 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 39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 83% of the 362.9 miles on these limited-access roads. You'll experience a 129.9-mile stretch on I 86 without needing to exit. Expect a dense number of exits as you approach your destination in Yonkers, indicating a shift from more rural cruising to suburban and urban merging.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 190 miles in near I 86; NY 17.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 362.9 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 190 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 342.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 353.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elma, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
New York
190 mi in
|
~4h 2m
|
via I 86; NY 17
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
327 mi in
|
~6h 51m
White Plains
342.7 mi in
|
~7h 10m
New York State Thruway South
342.7 mi in
|
~7h 10m
About the Cities
Starting in Elma, NY
Full guide →Founded 1857
Arriving in Yonkers, NY
Full guide →Founded 1646
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
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 7h 39m. Total distance: 362.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 39m 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 $0.51 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 190 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 342.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 353.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.3 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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