This 198.3-mile drive from Hamptonburgh, NY to Syracuse, NY is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 8 minutes. The majority of your journey, 97%, will be on highways, making it a straightforward trip. You'll mainly travel on NY 17 and I 81, with a brief section on Sarah Wells Trail. With a fuel cost estimated at $33, this route is budget-friendly for a day trip. It's a practical way to cover ground efficiently between the Northeast regions of New York.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
99.2 miles from Hamptonburgh, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
120.7 mi
2h 30m
I 81
70.5 mi
1h 22m
Sarah Wells Trail
3.4 mi
8m
Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
Fletcher Street
0.6 mi
1m
I-81
0.4 mi
<1m
North Church Street
0.4 mi
1m
Almond Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 120.7 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamptonburgh, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on CR 8
3.4 mi·8 min·Sarah Wells Trail
2
Turn left onto NY 207
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn right onto North Church Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Church Street
4
Turn left onto Golden Hill Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Golden Hill Avenue
5
Turn right onto Fletcher Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Fletcher Street
6
Continue on Fletcher Street
504 ft·14 sec·Fletcher Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward NY 17 West
8
Merge onto NY 17
121 mi·2 hr 30 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
66 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: SyracuseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
0.2 mi·17 sec·I 81
Toward SyracuseUse the straight lane.
12
Continue on I-81
0.4 mi·26 sec·I-81
13
Continue on I 81
1.9 mi·2 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Adams Street, Harrison StreetUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on Almond Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Almond Street
Use the left / slight left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto NY 92
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Genesee Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
10 ft·0 sec·South State Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 8-minute drive, leaving in the morning will allow you to reach Syracuse with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. The estimated fuel cost of $33 makes it easy to budget. Since this is a highway-focused route, pay attention to speed limit changes on NY 17 and I 81. A good tip is to ensure you have enough fuel before starting the 120.7-mile stretch on NY 17, as services can be spaced out.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 99.2 miles from Hamptonburgh, NY, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.7 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 44 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.2 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Syracuse, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hamptonburgh, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hamptonburgh, NY
This is one driving day of about 198.3 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Hamptonburgh, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 120.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 126.6 and 198.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
126.6 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
7
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
7
194.9 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Syracuse
7
197.5 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward Adams Street, Harrison Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Adams Street, Harrison Street
6
198.3 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|US 11 / South State Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 11 / South State Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.64 one way
$65.28 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$35.30
$70.59
premium
$4.92
$38.43
$76.87
diesel
$5.61
$43.78
$87.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.5
0
$20.82
$9.52
Efficient EV
49.6
0
$17.35
$7.93
EV Truck/SUV
79.3
0
$27.76
$12.69
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Hamptonburgh, NY
Morning
in Hamptonburgh on Tuesday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Morning
in Syracuse on Tuesday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 6 mph86% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 7:39PM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 7:35PM EDT until April 16 at 8:30PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 191.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 198.3-mile route, with a 97% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 120.7 miles on NY 17, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While primarily interstate driving, the initial and final segments might offer a slight change of pace. This route is built for covering distance, so the road character remains largely consistent, prioritizing forward momentum.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.7 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and I 81. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 126.6 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 198.3 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 126.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Hamptonburgh, NY to Syracuse, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Syracuse is a city in Central New York. With a population of 149,000 in city proper and 662,000 in its metro area (2020), Syracuse is the fifth largest city in the state of New York, and the third largest in Upstate New York.
Top landmarks
•Oncenter War Memorial Arena — arena in Syracuse, New York
•Everson Museum of Art — art museum in Syracuse, New York
•Niagara Mohawk Building — historic commercial building in New York, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 198.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 120.7 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Syracuse, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 126.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Syracuse, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
