Elmhurst, NY to Fredonia, NY is 397 miles and takes about 8h 30m via Keystone Shortway and Christopher Columbus Highway, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. With a recommended two days for this trip, you’ll experience mostly surface roads, making it a more leisurely pace than a pure highway drive. Plan for about two stops along the way to break up the 397 miles.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
198.5 miles from Elmhurst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
200 mi
3h 44m
Christopher Columbus Highway
44.6 mi
52m
Market Street
15.6 mi
19m
State Highway 60
14.4 mi
18m
US 219
12.3 mi
18m
US 46
10.8 mi
12m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
Montmorenci Road
8.8 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 200 mi, about 3h 44m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 298 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,993 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,681
Quietest
1 AM
~353 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Elmhurst, NY and Fredonia, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
90 ft·7 sec·Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 25
1.2 mi·3 min·Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, BrooklynUse the straight lane.
4
Merge onto I 278
0.7 mi·1 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 35Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, Greenpoint AvenueUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 35WToward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, ManhattanUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 495
1.4 mi·2 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
1.3 mi·2 min·Queens-Midtown Tunnel
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Crosstown, 37th StreetUse the slight left lane.
10
Turn slight left onto East 37th Street
1.1 mi·3 min·East 37th Street
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the ramp
474 ft·11 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
12
Turn right
342 ft·11 sec
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto NY 495
105 ft·4 sec·Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495
3.7 mi·6 min·Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Toward Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: SecaucusUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft·7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: CliftonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto NJ 3
10 mi·12 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto US 46
11 mi·12 min·US 46
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
20
Continue on I 80W
1.6 mi·1 min·Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, MahwahUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water GapUse the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Merge onto I 80
45 mi·52 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
195 mi·3 hr 35 min·Keystone Shortway
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 153: Clearfield, Penfield
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
27
Turn straight onto PA 153
7.5 mi·13 min·State Park Road
28
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
29
Continue on PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
30
At end of road, turn right onto US 219
12 mi·18 min·US 219
31
Turn right onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·Montmorenci Avenue
32
Continue on PA 948
8.8 mi·13 min·Montmorenci Road
33
Continue on PA 948
5.4 mi·7 min·Highland Road
34
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.7 mi·3 min·Kane-Russell City Road
35
Take the exit onto PA 948
8.6 mi·12 min·PA 948
36
Continue on PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·PA 666
37
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
1.2 mi·2 min·West Main Street
38
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
39
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
40
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
41
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
42
Continue on US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the straight lane.
43
Continue on Crescent Park
0.4 mi·1 min·Crescent Park
Use the right lane.
44
Turn right onto Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·17 sec·Hickory Bridge
Use the right lane.
45
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Hickory Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
46
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
47
Turn left onto US 62
16 mi·19 min·Market Street
48
At end of road, turn left onto NY 60
0.2 mi·15 sec·Foote Avenue
49
Turn right onto Martin Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Martin Road
50
Turn right onto Glenview Avenue
0.1 mi·22 sec·Glenview Avenue
51
Turn left onto West Virginia Boulevard
0.4 mi·53 sec·West Virginia Boulevard
52
Continue on Maple Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Maple Street
53
Continue on Allen Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Allen Street
54
Turn left onto Winsor Street
161 ft·5 sec·Winsor Street
55
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·22 sec·this road
56
Continue on Winsor Street Bridge
0.8 mi·2 min·Winsor Street Bridge
57
At end of road, turn left onto Newton Avenue
73 ft·5 sec·Newton Avenue
58
Turn right onto Lakeview Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Lakeview Avenue
59
Turn left onto Marvin Parkway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Marvin Parkway
60
Turn right onto NY 60
283 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
61
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 60
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Main Street
62
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 60
3.7 mi·5 min·North Main Street
63
Continue on NY 60
1.5 mi·2 min·NY-60
64
Continue on NY 60
0.2 mi·31 sec·NY-60
65
Continue on NY 60
3.7 mi·5 min·North Main Street
66
Continue on NY 60
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 60
67
Continue on NY 60
0.7 mi·51 sec·South Main Street
68
Continue on NY 60
7.2 mi·8 min·State Highway 60
69
Enter roundabout onto US 20
225 ft·3 sec·Main Street
70
Continue on US 20
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
71
Turn right onto Temple Street
74 ft·2 sec·Temple Street
72
Arrive at destination
Temple Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour 30-minute duration, breaking this trip into two days is recommended. Aim to leave Elmhurst in the morning to cover about half the distance on day one, allowing you to reach Fredonia refreshed on day two. With two recommended stops, plan for a mid-morning break and a longer stop for lunch or an early dinner. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 200-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent than on interstates. This trip's reliance on surface roads means you should allocate extra time for potential traffic or slower speeds.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 198.5 miles from Elmhurst, NY, or about 3h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 87 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.5 miles or 3h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 198.5 miles or 3h 59m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fredonia, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elmhurst, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elmhurst, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fredonia, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Elmhurst, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 200 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 49
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 11 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.4 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, Greenpoint Avenue
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 35
Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Isla...
9
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 35W
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
8
5.6 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Crosstown, 37th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crosstown, 37th Street
7
7.1 mi into trip|~16m in|NY 495 / Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495 / Lincoln Tunnel Expressway toward Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
8
11 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.49 one way
$138.98 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$75.30
$150.61
premium
$5.23
$81.74
$163.49
diesel
$6.28
$98.09
$196.19
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
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
$69
Tolls
$16
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$215–$325
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.1
1
$41.69
$19.06
Efficient EV
99.3
1
$34.74
$15.88
EV Truck/SUV
158.8
1
$55.58
$25.41
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 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 22, 2026
Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Evening
in Elmhurst on Thursday
Local time
8:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fredonia, NY
Evening
in Fredonia on Thursday
Local time
8:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
NW 1 to 6 mph1% 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
8h 30m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 13.7
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route has a 17% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway covering 200 miles. Expect to transition from highway cruising to navigating local streets and intersections as you encounter the dense exit environment common on non-highway segments. The profile suggests a drive that is mostly surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic patterns.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
72 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 200 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 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 49 significant decision points across 397 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 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,761 ft23 ft
Total Climb
3,597 ft
Total Descent
2,892 ft
Highest Point
1,761 ft
~283.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,739 ft
Notable High Points
1,512 ft at ~113.4 miles+652 ft prominence
1,599 ft at ~198.5 miles+514 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elmhurst, NY and Fredonia, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Penfield.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 200 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 199 miles on day one.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln Tunnel. 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 41 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 Fredonia, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Stonewall National Monument and African Burial Ground 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 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fredonia, NY before the return drive.
