Origin
Freedom, NY
Afternoon in Freedom on Sunday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Freedom, 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 5m
Distance
341.7 mi
550 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 54m
★
6 AM
7h 5m
8 AM
7h 27m
10 AM
7h 13m
12 PM
7h 11m
3 PM
7h 14m
5 PM
7h 26m
8 PM
6h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Freedom, NY
Paula Nardini
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Freedom, NY to Yonkers, NY is 341.7 miles and takes about 7h 5m via Southern Tier Expressway and I 86, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, it's a solid option if you need to cover a good distance 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
170.8 miles from Freedom, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 140.6 mi | 2h 44m |
| I 86 | 129.9 mi | 2h 40m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| Freedom Rushford | 11 mi | 16m |
| New York State Thruway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| NY 19 | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| US 6 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Southern Tier Expressway
— 140.6 mi, about 2h 44m
Traffic on I-86
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~772 veh/hr typical · worst 964
Quietest
2 AM
~50 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
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 Freedom, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on CR 23
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Freedom Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto NY 98
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 98
3
Turn straight onto NY 243
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Freedom Rushford
4
At end of road, turn right onto NY 19
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
NY 19
5
Turn left onto CR 16
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
County Highway 16
6
Continue on West Main Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
7
Enter roundabout onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Main Street
8
Continue on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Main Street
9
Turn right onto Peacock Hill Road
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Peacock Hill Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
11
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
141 mi
·
2 hr 44 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
12
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.
13
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
US 6
Exit 130A
Toward US 6: Bear Mountain
14
Enter roundabout
346 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
15
Continue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
16
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
New York State Thruway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Yonkers Avenue
24
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Nepperhan Avenue
25
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip in a single day. With only 2 recommended stops, you can plan them strategically to break up the 341.7 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 140.6-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway where services might be less frequent. The $56 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to check prices along your route.
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 170.8 miles from Freedom, NY, or about 3h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.6 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 75 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.8 miles or 3h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 47m
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 Freedom, 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 Freedom, NY
This is one driving day of about 341.7 miles and 7h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Freedom, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 140.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
171 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 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 170.8 miles from Freedom, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.6 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 168.8 and 341.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
168.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m 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
321.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 36m 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
332.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m 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
340.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 2m 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
341.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 4m 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
$55.53 one way
$111.07 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $60.11 | $120.21 |
| premium | $4.87 | $65.46 | $130.92 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $72.69 | $145.37 |
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
$56
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.5 | 1 | $35.88 | $16.40 |
| Efficient EV | 85.4 | 0 | $29.90 | $13.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 136.7 | 1 | $47.84 | $21.87 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Afternoon in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Montague, NJ
171 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 5m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of it on major roads like the Southern Tier Expressway and I 86. You'll experience a long stretch of uninterrupted highway travel, covering 140.6 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway. Expect to see plenty of exits and traffic as you get closer to your destination in the Northeast region.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.6 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 168.8 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 341.7 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 168.8 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 332.1 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 Freedom, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
New York
168.8 mi in
|
~3h 28m
|
via I 86; NY 17
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
305.8 mi in
|
~6h 17m
White Plains
321.5 mi in
|
~6h 36m
New York State Thruway South
321.5 mi in
|
~6h 36m
About the Cities
Starting in Freedom, NY
Full guide →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 5m. Total distance: 341.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.6 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. 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 168.8 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 332.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 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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