This 390.2-mile journey from Floral Park, NY, to Amherst, NY, will take approximately 8 hours and 7 minutes of driving time. With a highway share of 39%, it's a route that balances interstate travel with more local road sections. Given the duration and the driving profile, it's best split over two days, especially considering the recommended 2-day trip length. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $64. This drive primarily stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region.
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
195.1 miles from Floral Park, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
99.6 mi
1h 55m
I 81
97.3 mi
1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Chase Street
9.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Floral Park, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on this road
28 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn uturn
212 ft·22 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto Verbena Avenue
309 ft·18 sec·Verbena Avenue
4
Turn left onto Tulip Avenue
0.4 mi·47 sec·Tulip Avenue
5
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Jamaica Avenue
6
Turn slight right onto NY 25
1.2 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
7
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
8
Turn right onto I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
10
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
13
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
14
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
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
24
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
25
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
26
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
30
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
31
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
32
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
33
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
34
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
35
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
36
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
37
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
38
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
39
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
40
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
41
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
42
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
43
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
44
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
45
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
46
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
47
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
48
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
49
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
50
Merge onto I 90
100 mi·1 hr 55 min·New York State Thruway
51
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Exit 50Toward I 290: Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Continue on I 290
1.8 mi·2 min·Youngmann Expressway
53
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Turn left onto NY 324
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
55
Turn left onto NY 263
469 ft·13 sec·Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
56
Arrive at destination
NY 263
Trip Plan
To best enjoy this 8-hour drive, plan for an overnight stop, as recommended for this 390.2-mile route. Aim to depart early to maximize daylight for the driving sections, especially the 'turn-heavy local drive' portions. With 2 recommended stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the 8 hours and 7 minutes of driving. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $64, and utilize the breaks to refuel. A key tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the transitions between the New York State Thruway and I-81 to ensure smooth navigation.
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 195.1 miles from Floral Park, NY, or about 3h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 86 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.1 miles or 3h 58m 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 195.1 miles or 3h 58m
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 6h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Floral Park, 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 Floral Park, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amherst, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Floral Park, 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 New York State Thruway for about 99.6 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 36
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 389 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
19.8 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
20 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
22.4 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
8
389 mi into trip|~8h 5m in
Take the exit toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem R...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.23 one way
$128.46 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$69.45
$138.91
premium
$4.92
$75.63
$151.26
diesel
$5.61
$86.15
$172.30
Estimated Tolls: $27.81
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(99.6 mi)$4.98
New Jersey Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.28
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
$28
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$222–$332
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117.1
1
$40.97
$18.73
Efficient EV
97.6
1
$34.14
$15.61
EV Truck/SUV
156.1
1
$54.63
$24.97
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Floral Park, NY
Night
in Floral Park on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amherst, NY
Night
in Amherst on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 to 22 mph84% 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
25 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 7m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 269.1
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...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 282.6
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 13.5
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
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 13.5
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 13.5
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 13.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for the majority of this trip, even with a 39% highway share. While you'll encounter segments on major roads like the New York State Thruway, I-81, and the Christopher Columbus Highway, these are interspersed with more varied local driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 99.6 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a period of consistent highway cruising before you transition back to more complex road networks. This means you'll need to stay engaged as the road conditions and speed limits change.
Only 39% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
56 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on New York State Thruway.
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 early in the drive.
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 36 significant decision points across 390.2 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: near the start: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Floral Park, NY and Amherst, NY, road signs point toward Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack and Albany.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on New York State Thruway. 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 195 miles on day one.
Expect about $27.81 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.
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 Amherst, 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: near the start: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Amherst, NY before the return drive.
