Origin
Huntington, NY
Afternoon in Huntington on Sunday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Huntington, NY to West Elmira, 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
5h 37m
Distance
268.4 mi
432 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 24m
★
6 AM
5h 38m
8 AM
6h 4m
10 AM
5h 47m
12 PM
5h 44m
3 PM
5h 48m
5 PM
6h 3m
8 PM
5h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Huntington, NY
Wikimedia Commons
West Elmira, NY
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
Huntington, NY to West Elmira, NY is 268.4 miles and takes about 5h 37m via Christopher Columbus Highway and I-81/I-86, with a fuel budget near $44 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 mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward, single-day excursion. It’s a practical choice if you need to get from Long Island to the Southern Tier efficiently without needing an overnight stop.
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
134.2 miles from Huntington, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 86 | 54.7 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Northern Boulevard | 17.4 mi | 28m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 68.2 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical · worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
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 Huntington, NY and West Elmira, NY.
1
Start on NY 110
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
New York Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 25A
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25A
267 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on Lawrence Hill Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lawrence Hill Road
5
Continue on Lawrence Hill Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lawrence Hill Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto NY 25A
17 mi
·
28 min
·
Northern Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto CI
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
11
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
14
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
15
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
16
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.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 80
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
25
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
26
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
27
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
55 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 56
Toward NY 352: Elmira, Jerusalem Hill
30
Keep slight left at fork
103 ft
·
6 sec
31
Turn left onto NY 352
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Water Street
32
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Main Street
33
Turn left onto NY 352
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Church Street
34
Turn left onto Durland Avenue
524 ft
·
25 sec
·
Durland Avenue
35
Turn right
204 ft
·
16 sec
36
At end of road, turn left
174 ft
·
14 sec
37
Turn right
168 ft
·
12 sec
38
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5h 37m drive, leaving in the morning allows you to reach West Elmira with plenty of daylight to spare. Since it’s a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but planning one break is recommended. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially after the longest stretch of 68.2 miles on the Christopher Columbus Highway, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The estimated fuel cost is $44, so budget accordingly. Pay attention to the transitions between the highway and surface roads, as this is where your speed will change significantly.
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 134.2 miles from Huntington, NY, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.2 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 59 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.2 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Elmira, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Huntington, 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 Huntington, NY
This is one driving day of about 268.4 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Huntington, 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 Christopher Columbus Highway for about 68.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.2 miles from Huntington, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Christopher Columbus Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.2 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 295 decision points cluster between mile 19.8 and 37.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
19.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the ramp toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
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 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
8
34.5 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
34.7 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
37.1 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.62 one way
$87.24 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $47.21 | $94.43 |
| premium | $4.87 | $51.42 | $102.84 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $57.09 | $114.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.83
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
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
$44
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.5 | 0 | $28.18 | $12.88 |
| Efficient EV | 67.1 | 0 | $23.48 | $10.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.4 | 1 | $37.58 | $17.18 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
West Elmira, NY
Afternoon in West Elmira on Sunday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Montague, NJ
134 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
About 57% of this 268.4-mile route is highway. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway at 68.2 miles on the Christopher Columbus Highway. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you’ll transition between faster-paced driving and more local roads. Be prepared for a shift in driving environment as you leave the primary highway sections for more built-up areas with frequent exits.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.2 mi on Christopher Columbus Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 19.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 29 significant decision points across 268.4 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 19.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Huntington, NY and West Elmira, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack.
Cross Island Parkway North
19.8 mi in
|
~33m
Bronx
22.3 mi in
|
~37m
New England
22.3 mi in
|
~37m
Upper Level
32 mi in
|
~51m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
34.5 mi in
|
~55m
Hackensack
37.1 mi in
|
~59m
About the Cities
Starting in Huntington, NY
Full guide →Founded 1653
Huntington is a town in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. It is on the North Shore (or Gold Coast) of the island, famous for its lavish estates along the Long Island Sound and its affluent residential communities. The town is large with a population of over 200,000, and many neighborhoods in town having their own distinct identities. Four villages in the town even have their own level of autonomy, with one of them, Northport, having its own article.
Top landmarks
- • Oheka Castle — mansion in Huntington, New York, USA
- • Vanderbilt Museum — museum in Suffolk county, N.Y.
- • Eatons Neck Light — lighthouse in New York, United States
Arriving in West Elmira, NY
Full guide →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 5h 37m. Total distance: 268.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.2 miles on Christopher Columbus Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.83 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 West Elmira, 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 19.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Elmira, 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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