Lake Ronkonkoma, NY to Amherst, NY is 421.5 miles and takes about 8h 53m via New York State Thruway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $69 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, taking you across the state. With a recommended two days for the drive, you can break up the nearly 9-hour travel time. Plan on spending a significant portion of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, if long, transit.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
210.7 miles from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
99.6 mi
1h 55m
I 81
97.3 mi
1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
Long Island Expressway
31.8 mi
42m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 55m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,190 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,979
Quietest
1 AM
~446 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Lake Ronkonkoma, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on Margaret Drive
0.2 mi·1 min·Margaret Drive
2
Turn left onto Gibbs Pond Road
0.3 mi·43 sec·Gibbs Pond Road
3
Continue on CR 93
0.6 mi·1 min·Rosevale Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 67
1.4 mi·2 min·Motor Parkway
5
Turn left onto Old Nichols Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Old Nichols Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi·17 sec·Express Drive North
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 495 west: New YorkUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 495
32 mi·42 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 31N-SToward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 31NToward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi·4 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 33Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New EnglandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
14
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
17
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
18
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
19
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.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
28
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
29
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
30
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
33
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
34
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
35
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
36
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
37
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
38
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
39
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
40
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
41
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
42
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
43
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
44
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
45
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
46
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
47
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
48
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
49
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
50
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
51
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
52
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
53
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
54
Merge onto I 90
100 mi·1 hr 55 min·New York State Thruway
55
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Exit 50Toward I 290: Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Continue on I 290
1.8 mi·2 min·Youngmann Expressway
57
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Turn left onto NY 324
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
59
Turn left onto NY 263
469 ft·13 sec·Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
60
Arrive at destination
NY 263
Trip Plan
Since this drive is over 8 hours, it's best to split it over two days. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover a good portion of the distance, potentially around 5 hours of driving. Your second day will involve the remaining travel time, leaving you with a less strenuous final push. With two recommended days, you have flexibility for stops, but remember to factor in time for refueling, especially on the longer highway segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is nearly 100 miles.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 210.7 miles from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, or about 4h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 93 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 210.7 miles or 4h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 210.7 miles or 4h 25m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 42m
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 Lake Ronkonkoma, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amherst, NY
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 99.6 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 41
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.3 and 51.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
35.3 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
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 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
35.5 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
38.9 mi into trip|~56m 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
51.1 mi into trip|~1h 14m 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
51.3 mi into trip|~1h 14m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.78 one way
$147.56 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg148 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$79.95
$159.90
premium
$5.23
$86.79
$173.58
diesel
$6.28
$104.15
$208.29
Estimated Tolls: $27.81
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(99.6 mi)$4.98
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
$74
Tolls
$28
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$232–$342
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
22 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Centereach, NY - Tesla Supercharger
Centereach, NY
Tesla
12 DCFC
Islandia, NY - Tesla Supercharger
Islandia, NY
Tesla
10 DCFC
Lake Grove, NY - Tesla Supercharger
Lake Grove, NY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Smithtown, NY - Tesla Supercharger
Smithtown, NY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Hauppauge, NY - Motor Parkway - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.5
1
$44.26
$20.23
Efficient EV
105.4
1
$36.88
$16.86
EV Truck/SUV
168.6
2
$59.01
$26.98
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 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.
Forecast as of Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Afternoon
in Lake Ronkonkoma on Thursday
Local time
3:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
N 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Amherst, NY
Afternoon
in Amherst on Thursday
Local time
3:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 1 to 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
1 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
8h 53m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 305.2
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 319.8
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 44% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch being 99.6 miles on the New York State Thruway. After the highway sections, you'll transition to mostly surface roads. Expect a mix of high-speed travel and more local cruising as you navigate through various parts of New York.
Only 44% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
60 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 35.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 41 significant decision points across 421.5 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 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,921 ft72 ft
Total Climb
2,985 ft
Total Descent
2,460 ft
Highest Point
1,921 ft
~150.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,849 ft
Notable High Points
1,921 ft at ~150.5 miles+703 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Ronkonkoma, NY and Amherst, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 211 miles on day one.
Expect about $27.81 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.
Yes — we found about 41 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and Hamilton Grange National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Amherst, NY before the return drive.
