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Trip from Horseheads, NY to Amherst, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 3m

Distance

144 mi

232 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 52m ★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 9m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 25m
8 PM
2h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town of New York, USA

Horseheads, NY

Wikimedia Commons

town in New York, United States

Amherst, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 144.6-mile drive from Horseheads, NY to Amherst, NY is a straightforward, 2.5-hour trip that's perfect for a single day. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's an economical option for exploring within the Northeast. The route primarily uses local roads like West Franklin Street, Thorne Street, and Sayre Street, indicating a more involved driving experience rather than highway cruising. Given its relatively short duration, it’s best tackled in one go, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This journey offers a practical way to travel between two points in New York without the need for an overnight stop.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

72 miles from Horseheads, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Southern Tier Expressway 38.9 mi 44m
Genesee Expressway 38.6 mi 44m
New York State Thruway 30 mi 35m
Ellicott Street Road 10.3 mi 15m
Genesee Street 8.7 mi 13m
Big Tree Road 4.1 mi 6m
Geneseo-Mount Morris Road 3.3 mi 4m
Youngmann Expressway 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Southern Tier Expressway — 38.9 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Horseheads, NY and Amherst, NY.

1

Start on South Main Street

255 ft · 8 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn left onto West Franklin Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · West Franklin Street
3

Turn slight left onto Thorne Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Thorne Street
4

Keep slight left at fork onto Thorne Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Thorne Street
5

Turn right onto Sayre Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Sayre Street
6

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec
7

Merge onto I 86; NY 17

39 mi · 44 min · Southern Tier Expressway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 390

39 mi · 44 min · Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 7 Toward NY 408, NY 63: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
10

Turn right onto NY 408

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Mount Morris-Geneseo Road
11

Continue on NY 63

3.3 mi · 4 min · Geneseo-Mount Morris Road
12

Turn left onto NY 63

1.3 mi · 1 min · Genesee Street
13

Enter roundabout onto NY 63

100 ft · 1 sec · Genesee Street
14

Continue on NY 63

7.5 mi · 11 min · Genesee Street
15

Continue on NY 63

0.7 mi · 54 sec · State Highway 63
16

Continue on NY 63

4.1 mi · 6 min · Big Tree Road
17

Continue on NY 63

10 mi · 15 min · Ellicott Street Road
18

Turn right onto Cedar Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Cedar Street
19

Turn left onto NY 5

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
20

Turn right onto NY 98

1.1 mi · 2 min · Oak Street
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
22

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 West
23

Merge onto I 90

30 mi · 35 min · New York State Thruway
24

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 36 sec
Exit 50 Toward I 290: Niagara Falls Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Continue on I 290

1.8 mi · 2 min · Youngmann Expressway
26

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 6 Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Turn left onto NY 324

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
28

Turn left onto NY 263

469 ft · 13 sec · Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
29

Arrive at destination

NY 263

Trip Plan

For this 2.5-hour drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the 144.6 miles, perhaps midway through your journey. The estimated fuel cost of $24 is quite reasonable, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Horseheads. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, keep an eye on your GPS and be prepared for frequent adjustments. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your departure time based on traffic or your own schedule.

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 72 miles from Horseheads, NY, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.9 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 32 miles or 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 72 miles or 1h 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 31m

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 Horseheads, 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 Horseheads, NY

This is one driving day of about 144 miles and 3h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Horseheads, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 38.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Leicestershire, East Midlands, England

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Leicester, NY

72 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

Bath, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Leicester, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72 miles from Horseheads, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Electrify America Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Horseheads, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 113.6

Batavia, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 113.6

Batavia, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Flying J EV Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 123.9

Pembroke, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15855994430

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 20.7

Painted Post, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 62

Dansville, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Elmira, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 134.3

Clarence, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18885577099

Visit website

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 144.6

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 10:30 am–2:30 pm

+17168563858

Visit website

Billy Wilson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 144.6

Williamsville, New York

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17166317132

Visit website

The Buffalo Zoo

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 144.6

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17168373900

Visit website

Delaware Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 144.6

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17168381249

Visit website

5 Wits Buffalo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 144.6

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 12–8 pm

+17162730600

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 40.1 and 142.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
40.1 mi into trip | ~48m in | I 390 / Genesee Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 390 / Genesee Expressway toward I 390: Rochester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 390: Rochester
6
78.7 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the exit toward NY 408, NY 63: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 7 Toward NY 408, NY 63: Mount Morris, Letchworth...
5
83.7 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | NY 63 / Genesee Street

Enter roundabout onto NY 63 / Genesee Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
140.6 mi into trip | ~2h 58m in

Take the exit toward I 290: Niagara Falls

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 50 Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
8
142.8 mi into trip | ~3h 1m 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

$23.70 one way

$47.41 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $25.63 $51.26
premium $4.92 $27.91 $55.82
diesel $5.61 $31.79 $63.59

Estimated Tolls: $1.50

New York State Thruway (30 mi) $1.50

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

$24

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.2 0 $15.12 $6.91
Efficient EV 36 0 $12.60 $5.76
EV Truck/SUV 57.6 0 $20.16 $9.22

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Horseheads, NY

Morning in Horseheads on Sunday

Local time

7:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amherst, NY

Morning in Amherst on Sunday

Local time

7:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

58°F

Leicester, NY

72 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

3h 3m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share meaning you'll be navigating through towns and local streets for the entire 144.6 miles. The absence of a longest uninterrupted stretch suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction, making it an engaging, albeit less speedy, journey. You'll likely experience a consistent feel throughout the drive, as the profile indicates a continuous series of turns rather than distinct phases of highway and local travel. This kind of route requires your full attention and can be a great way to see more of the local landscape.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.9 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.1 miles in near I 390 / Genesee Expressway.

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 144 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 40.1 miles (I 390 / Genesee Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.7 miles (NY 63 / Genesee Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

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 Horseheads, NY to Amherst, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Letchworth Park along the way.

Letchworth Park

78.7 mi in | ~1h 32m

About the Cities

Arriving in Amherst, NY

Full guide →

Amherst is a town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.

Top landmarks

  • • Entranceway at Main Street at Roycroft Boulevard — residential landscape feature in Amherst, New York state, USA
  • • Entranceways at Main Street at Lamarck Drive and Smallwood Drive — residential landscape feature in Amherst, New York state, USA

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 3h 3m. Total distance: 144 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.9 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.50 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 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 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 40.1 miles (I 390 / Genesee Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.7 miles (NY 63 / Genesee Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Amherst, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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