Elmhurst, NY to Massena, NY is 363.7 miles and takes about 7h 56m via NY 17 and Adirondack Northway, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more grounded experience than a pure highway run. It's a manageable one-day drive, but you'll want to be prepared for the majority of the route not being on high-speed interstates.
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
181.9 miles from Elmhurst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
111.7 mi
2h 8m
Adirondack Northway
97.7 mi
1h 53m
Santa Clara Road
20.9 mi
31m
State Highway 73
18.7 mi
27m
NJ 17
14.7 mi
18m
South Main Street
10.9 mi
16m
I 787
9 mi
12m
Adirondack Trail
8.9 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 111.7 mi, about 2h 8m
Traffic on I-87
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 46 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,467 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,399
Quietest
1 AM
~114 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 79 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 Massena, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
90 ft·7 sec·Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 25
0.3 mi·1 min·Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn slight right
216 ft·8 sec
4
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
0.7 mi·2 min·Queens Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
6
Merge onto I 278
0.9 mi·1 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
1.1 mi·2 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, BronxUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto GCP; I 278
0.7 mi·1 min·Grand Central Parkway
9
Continue on I 278
1.6 mi·2 min·Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 46Toward Manhattan, Randalls IslandUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 46Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
12
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
0.4 mi·41 sec·Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
13
Keep slight right at fork
127 ft·3 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive NorthUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto HRD
2.3 mi·3 min·Harlem River Drive
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 24Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 StreetUse the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington BridgeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 95; US 1
0.4 mi·42 sec·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
20
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
21
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 72AToward NJ 4 West: ParamusUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi·9 min·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, MahwahUse the straight lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: MahwahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi·9 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi·50 sec·NJ 17
32
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
33
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi·10 sec·I 287; NY 17
34
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
112 mi·2 hr 8 min·NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 23Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, TroyUse the slight right lane.
36
Continue on I 787
9.0 mi·12 min·I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 787
0.4 mi·29 sec·NY 787
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 9WToward NY 7 West: Schenectady, Saratoga SpringsUse the right lane.
39
Merge onto NY 7
3.1 mi·3 min·NY 7
40
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 North: Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls
41
Merge onto I 87
98 mi·1 hr 53 min·Adirondack Northway
42
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 30Toward US 9, NY 73: Keene, Keene Valley
43
Turn left onto US 9
2.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 9
44
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 73
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 73
45
Continue on NY 9N; NY 73
1.8 mi·3 min·State Highway 9N
46
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 73
7.2 mi·10 min·State Highway 73
47
Continue on NY 73
5.3 mi·7 min·Cascade Road
48
Turn slight left onto CR 35
3.6 mi·6 min·Old Military Road
49
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86
4.9 mi·7 min·Saranac-Placid Road
50
Continue on NY 86
1.2 mi·3 min·Lake Flower Avenue
51
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86
0.3 mi·42 sec·River Street
52
Turn right onto NY 3; NY 86
0.4 mi·51 sec·Church Street
53
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86
490 ft·12 sec·Bloomingdale Avenue
54
Turn right onto NY 86
0.5 mi·48 sec·Broadway Street
55
Continue on NY 86
3.0 mi·4 min·Lake Colby Drive
56
Continue on NY 86
2.8 mi·4 min·Harrietstown Road
57
Continue on NY 86
1.9 mi·2 min·State Highway 86
58
Continue on NY 86
3.7 mi·5 min·Easy Street
59
Turn right onto NY 30
8.9 mi·12 min·Adirondack Trail
60
Turn left onto NY 458
17 mi·25 min·Santa Clara Road
61
Continue on NY 458
4.0 mi·5 min·Santa Clara Road
62
Turn slight left onto NY 458
3.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 458
63
At end of road, turn left onto NY 11B
2.0 mi·2 min·NY 11B
64
Turn right onto County Road 49
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road 49
65
Continue on County Road 49
0.2 mi·23 sec·County Road 49
66
Turn left onto CR 49
5.9 mi·10 min·Hopkinton-Winthrop Road
67
Continue on NY 420
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 420
68
At end of road, turn right onto NY 11C; NY 420
0.1 mi·17 sec·State Highway 11C
69
Turn left onto NY 420
11 mi·16 min·South Main Street
70
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Elmhurst to maximize daylight. With 2 planned stops, you can comfortably break up the 363.7 miles. Consider making your first stop around the halfway point, especially as you'll encounter a significant section on surface roads later in the trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly as you get further into upstate New York, and use the $63 fuel estimate to budget accordingly. The longest stretch of highway is 111.7 miles on NY 17, so plan your fuel and break needs before you leave that segment.
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 181.9 miles from Elmhurst, NY, or about 3h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.7 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.9 miles or 3h 47m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Massena, 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 363.7 miles and 7h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 NY 17 for about 111.7 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 45
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 12.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan...
8
5.6 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
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 46
Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
8
6.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street,...
9
10 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washingto...
9
12.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.25 one way
$128.50 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$69.52
$139.04
premium
$5.28
$75.55
$151.09
diesel
$6.18
$88.48
$176.95
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$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
$64
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.1
1
$38.19
$17.46
Efficient EV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
EV Truck/SUV
145.5
1
$50.92
$23.28
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Late night
in Elmhurst on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Massena, NY
Late night
in Massena on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
SW 9 mph0% 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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 56m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 12.5
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
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...
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?
With 49% on highways, you'll start with some interstate cruising before transitioning. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 111.7 miles on NY 17. After that, you'll be on surface roads for the remainder of your travel, which means you should anticipate more frequent intersections and potentially slower average speeds. This profile suggests a route where you'll notice the landscape change more gradually as you move from more developed areas to more rural cruising.
Only 49% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
70 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.7 mi on NY 17.
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 2.1 miles in near I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West.
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 45 significant decision points across 363.7 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 2.1 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,704 ft23 ft
Total Climb
2,152 ft
Total Descent
1,946 ft
Highest Point
1,704 ft
~285.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,681 ft
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 Massena, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South, Gsp North, Newark, Mahwah, New York State Thruway North: Albany and Troy - among others.
Massena is in upstate New York right on the Saint Lawrence River which forms the border with Canada.
There is a bridge to the Canadian town of Cornwall a few miles downriver. Forty miles (60 km) upriver is another bridge linking Ogdensburg, New York to Prescott, Ontario.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 56m. Total distance: 363.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.7 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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 22 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 Massena, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 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 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Massena, NY before the return drive.
