Kirkland, NY to New Rochelle, NY is 245.9 miles and takes about 4h 58m via New York State Thruway and North-South Arterial Highway, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same region. The route primarily uses highway, making for a straightforward drive. With its relatively short duration and manageable distance, this is a solid option for a same-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
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
123 miles from Kirkland, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
229.7 mi
4h 29m
North-South Arterial Highway
3.8 mi
5m
East Lincoln Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Clinton Road
2 mi
3m
Limberlost Road
1.7 mi
2m
Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
1.6 mi
2m
Genesee Street
1.5 mi
2m
North Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 229.7 mi, about 4h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, NY and New Rochelle, NY.
1
Start on NY 5
0.4 mi·39 sec·Seneca Turnpike
2
Turn right onto NY 5B
1.7 mi·2 min·Limberlost Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5B; NY 12B
2.0 mi·3 min·Clinton Road
4
Turn right onto NY 5
3.8 mi·5 min·North-South Arterial Highway
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
6
Keep slight right at fork
219 ft·6 sec
7
Turn slight right onto Court Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·Court Street
8
Turn left onto Genesee Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Genesee Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 90
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 90 East
11
Merge onto I 90
84 mi·1 hr 36 min·New York State Thruway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 87 South: New York, BostonUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
19 mi·24 min·New York State Thruway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
8.8 mi·11 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 4Toward Cross County Parkway, Mile Square RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto NY 100
0.4 mi·56 sec·Central Park Avenue
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross County Parkway East
18
Merge onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
1.6 mi·2 min·Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 8Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount VernonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto Parkway South
380 ft·15 sec·Parkway South
Toward NY 22
21
Turn right onto NY 22
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Columbus Avenue
22
Turn left onto East Lincoln Avenue
2.1 mi·3 min·East Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto North Avenue
0.3 mi·37 sec·North Avenue
24
Continue on North Avenue
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Avenue
Use the straight lane.
25
Arrive at destination
North Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the drive is under 5 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach New Rochelle before evening. The longest stretch without a major road change is 229.7 miles on the New York State Thruway, so plan your fuel stop before or soon after this segment. You'll have one main road change, so be sure to note the transition from the Thruway to the North-South Arterial Highway.
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 123 miles from Kirkland, NY, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 229.7 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 54 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123 miles or 2h 27m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Rochelle, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kirkland, 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 Kirkland, NY
This is one driving day of about 245.9 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Kirkland, 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 New York State Thruway for about 229.7 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.9 and 242.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
94.2 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
6
231.4 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|I 87 / New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 / New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
240.2 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Take the exit toward Cross County Parkway, Mile Square Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward Cross County Parkway, Mile Square Road
8
242.7 mi into trip|~4h 51m in
Take the exit toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon
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 8
Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vern...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.78 one way
$79.56 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$43.17
$86.34
premium
$4.85
$46.93
$93.87
diesel
$4.80
$46.43
$92.86
Estimated Tolls: $11.48
New York State Thruway
(229.7 mi)$11.48
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
$40
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.8
0
$25.82
$11.80
Efficient EV
61.5
0
$21.52
$9.84
EV Truck/SUV
98.4
1
$34.43
$15.74
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, NY
Evening
in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Areas Of Smoke
SW 6 to 12 mph97% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:46AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 18 at 2:52AM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
New Rochelle, NY
Evening
in New Rochelle on Sunday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 6 to 12 mph95% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:46AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 18 at 2:52AM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton 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
2 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
4h 58m 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.
Fort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
For centuries, the Oneida Carrying Place, a six-mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, served as a vital link for those traveling by water from the ocean to the Great Lakes. When Eur...
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 245.9
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 245.9
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 245.9
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 245.9
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 245.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on the New York State Thruway, covering 229.7 miles on this main highway. After leaving the Thruway, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your drive. The profile is mostly surface roads for the final stretch, so be prepared for more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach your destination.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 229.7 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 7.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 245.9 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 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 94.2 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 231.4 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
614 ft0 ft
Total Climb
794 ft
Total Descent
1,233 ft
Highest Point
614 ft
~175.7 mi in
Elevation Range
614 ft
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 Kirkland, NY to New Rochelle, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 58m. Total distance: 245.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 229.7 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.48 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.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 New Rochelle, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 94.2 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 231.4 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Stanwix National Monument, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and General Grant National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at New Rochelle, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
