Broome Gateway Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Lancaster, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 48m
Distance
372.7 mi
600 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 39m
★
6 AM
7h 48m
8 AM
8h 7m
10 AM
7h 55m
12 PM
7h 53m
3 PM
7h 55m
5 PM
8h 6m
8 PM
7h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Lancaster, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Elmhurst, NY to Lancaster, NY is 372.7 miles and takes about 7h 48m via I 86 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to its western part. It's a primarily highway route that should feel straightforward for most drivers. With only 2 planned stops, you can make good time and reach your destination efficiently.
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
186.3 miles from Elmhurst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 100 mi | 1h 56m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 44.6 mi | 52m |
| Genesee Expressway | 38.6 mi | 44m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| Broadway Road | 13.9 mi | 19m |
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 100 mi, about 1h 56m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 123 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,393 veh/hr typical · worst 5,118
Quietest
1 AM
~445 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
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 Elmhurst, NY and Lancaster, 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, Brooklyn
Use 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 35
Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, Greenpoint Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 35W
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Use 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 Street
Use 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 Tunnel
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Use 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, Mahwah
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
Use 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
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
25
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
26
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
27
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
39 mi
·
44 min
·
Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 7
Toward NY 408, NY 63: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
31
Turn right onto NY 408
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Mount Morris-Geneseo Road
32
Continue on NY 63
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Geneseo-Mount Morris Road
33
Turn left onto NY 63
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Genesee Street
34
Enter roundabout onto NY 63
100 ft
·
1 sec
·
Genesee Street
35
Continue on NY 63
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Genesee Street
36
Continue on NY 63
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
State Highway 63
37
Continue on NY 63
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Big Tree Road
38
Continue on NY 63
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Ellicott Street Road
39
Turn left onto US 20
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Telephone Road
40
Continue on US 20
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Broadway Road
41
Continue on US 20
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Broadway Street
42
Continue on US 20
9.1 mi
·
15 min
·
Broadway Street
43
Turn right
45 ft
·
3 sec
44
Turn left
71 ft
·
5 sec
45
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 48m drive, consider an early morning departure from Elmhurst to avoid potential traffic. With 2 recommended stops, plan for breaks roughly every 2-3 hours to stay refreshed. The $62 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always monitor your gauge, especially during the 100-mile stretch on I 86 where services might be less frequent. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule based on real-time conditions.
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 186.3 miles from Elmhurst, NY, or about 3h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.3 miles or 3h 53m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lancaster, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elmhurst, NY
This is one driving day of about 372.7 miles and 7h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Elmhurst, 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 100 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
186 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 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 186.3 miles from Elmhurst, 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 100 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Campbell Rest Area
0 mi from route
Geneseo Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Kanona Rest Area
0 mi from route
Penn-Can Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Rest area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Nichols Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Owego Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pennsylvania Welcome Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Mount Morris Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Crescent Lake Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Erwin Text Zone / Parking Area
0.1 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pennsylvania Welcome Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.5 mi from route
Larry Doby Service Area
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Connie Chung Service Area
0.9 mi from route
Rest Area
0.9 mi from route
Alexander Hamilton Service Area
1.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Vince Lombardi Service Area
2.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 345 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
$60.29 one way
$120.58 round trip
$4.11/gal
25.4 MPG avg
130 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $65.43 | $130.86 |
| premium | $4.85 | $71.14 | $142.27 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $70.37 | $140.75 |
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
$60
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.8 | 1 | $39.13 | $17.89 |
| Efficient EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.61 | $14.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.1 | 1 | $52.18 | $23.85 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Afternoon in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
2:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Smoke
NW 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Lancaster, NY
Afternoon in Lancaster on Sunday
Local time
2:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Smoke
S 1 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
84°F
Barton, 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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 48m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 12.9
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 12.9
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 12.9
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 12.9
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 12.9
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 12.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 68% of the route on major roads like I 86 and I 81. You'll experience a longest stretch of 100 miles on I 86, offering extended periods of cruising. Expect the highway portion to conclude with a transition to surface roads as you approach your destination. The density of exits on the interstate sections will be a noticeable feature.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100 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 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 34 significant decision points across 372.7 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 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
1,914 ft
23 ft
Total Climb
3,600 ft
Total Descent
2,950 ft
Highest Point
1,914 ft
~106.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,891 ft
Notable High Points
1,197 ft at ~346.1 miles
+525 ft prominence
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 Elmhurst, NY and Lancaster, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Letchworth Park.
Del Water Gap
32.1 mi in
|
~48m
Mahwah
32.4 mi in
|
~49m
|
via I 80W
Letchworth Park
321.2 mi in
|
~6h 30m
About the Cities
Arriving in Lancaster, NY
Full guide →Founded 1833
Lancaster is the name of a village and town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.
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 48m. Total distance: 372.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 40 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 Lancaster, 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 40 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, Hamilton Grange 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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lancaster, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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