This 248-mile drive from Lewisboro, NY, to Syracuse, NY, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 18 minutes. It's a highway-focused trip, with 90% of the journey on major interstates like I-84 and I-81, making it efficient for covering ground. With a projected fuel cost of around $41, this route is budget-friendly for a one-day excursion. You'll be traversing within the Northeast region, staying within New York State for the entirety of your travel. This plan is ideal if you're looking for a direct and straightforward trip between these two points.
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
124 miles from Lewisboro, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
109.5 mi
2h 17m
I 81
70.5 mi
1h 22m
I 84
33.7 mi
40m
State Highway 17K
10 mi
13m
NY 17K
6.9 mi
9m
North Salem Road
4.1 mi
9m
Peach Lake Road
3.7 mi
6m
West Lane
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 109.5 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewisboro, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on Shady Lane
148 ft·7 sec·Shady Lane
2
Turn right onto NY 123
1.1 mi·2 min·Smith Ridge Road
3
Turn right onto Spring Hill Lane
0.2 mi·33 sec·Spring Hill Lane
4
Continue on West Lane
2.1 mi·4 min·West Lane
5
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 35
174 ft·5 sec·West Lane
6
Continue on CT 35
1.1 mi·3 min·Main Street
7
Continue on CT 116
0.1 mi·15 sec·Main Street
8
Continue on CT 116
3.0 mi·6 min·North Salem Road
9
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 116
1.1 mi·2 min·North Salem Road
10
Continue on NY 116
1.1 mi·1 min·Titicus Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto NY 121
3.7 mi·6 min·Peach Lake Road
12
Turn left onto US 6; US 202
1.1 mi·1 min·Danbury Road
Toward Brewster
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·50 sec
Toward Newburgh, White Plains
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 9WToward I 84 West: Newburgh
15
Merge onto I 84
34 mi·40 min·I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 34Toward NY 17K: Montgomery, NewburghUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto NY 17K
6.9 mi·9 min·NY 17K
18
Turn slight left onto NY 17K
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 17K
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Wurtsboro, Binghamton
20
Merge onto NY 17
110 mi·2 hr 17 min·NY 17
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
22
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.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
0.2 mi·17 sec·I 81
Toward SyracuseUse the straight lane.
24
Continue on I-81
0.4 mi·26 sec·I-81
25
Continue on I 81
1.9 mi·2 min·I 81
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Adams Street, Harrison StreetUse the slight right lane.
27
Continue on Almond Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Almond Street
Use the left / slight left / straight / right lanes.
28
Turn left onto NY 92
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Genesee Street
29
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
10 ft·0 sec·South State Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
With a 5-hour and 18-minute duration, this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day. To make the most of your drive, consider an early morning departure from Lewisboro to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you navigate out of the more populated areas. You'll have one main road, NY 17, for a significant portion of the journey, so pay attention to its changes as you progress. Your fuel cost is estimated at $41, so ensure your tank is full before you set out to minimize any mid-drive stops, though the longest stretch is over 100 miles, making a stop advisable at some point.
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 124 miles from Lewisboro, NY, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.5 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 55 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124 miles or 2h 48m 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 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 Lewisboro, 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 Lewisboro, NY
This is one driving day of about 248 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Lewisboro, 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 109.5 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.3 and 247.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
49.3 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward NY 17K: Montgomery, Newburgh
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 34
Toward NY 17K: Montgomery, Newburgh
6
66.4 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the ramp toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Wurtsboro, Binghamton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Wurtsboro, Bingha...
7
178 mi into trip|~3h 55m 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
244.5 mi into trip|~5h 13m 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
247.1 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.82 one way
$81.64 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$44.14
$88.28
premium
$4.92
$48.07
$96.13
diesel
$5.61
$54.76
$109.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.4
0
$26.04
$11.90
Efficient EV
62
0
$21.70
$9.92
EV Truck/SUV
99.2
1
$34.72
$15.87
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Lewisboro, NY
Late night
in Lewisboro on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Late night
in Syracuse on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 18m 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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 239.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 248-mile route, as 90% of your travel will be on major roads like NY 17, I-84, and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 109.5 miles on NY 17, offering a sustained period of consistent driving. This profile suggests a journey characterized by higher average speeds and minimal slowdowns, typical of interstate travel. You'll experience a consistent road character for the majority of the trip, allowing for a steady pace.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.5 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 49.3 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 19 significant decision points across 248 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 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178 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.
Between Lewisboro, NY and Syracuse, NY, road signs point toward Brewster, Newburgh, White Plains, Binghamton and Albany.
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 5h 18m. Total distance: 248 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.5 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 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Syracuse, NY before the return drive.
