Mount Vernon, NY to Dryden, NY is 220.4 miles and takes about 4h 39m via Long Mountain Parkway and NY 17, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, primarily traversing the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making it a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
110.2 miles from Mount Vernon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
New York State Thruway
17.9 mi
24m
I 81
15.8 mi
19m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
US 11
13.6 mi
15m
State Route 38
7.2 mi
10m
Dryden Harford Road
3.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~952 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,382
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 17 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 Mount Vernon, NY and Dryden, NY.
1
Start on East Prospect Avenue
56 ft·9 sec·East Prospect Avenue
2
Turn left onto Gramatan Avenue
361 ft·13 sec·Gramatan Avenue
3
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.4 mi·50 sec·West 1st Street
4
Turn right onto West Lincoln Avenue
221 ft·6 sec·West Lincoln Avenue
5
Turn left onto Mount Vernon Avenue
0.4 mi·39 sec·Mount Vernon Avenue
6
Continue on Yonkers Avenue
1.1 mi·1 min·Yonkers Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Central Park Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·Central Park Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 87 North, New York State Thruway North: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Albany
9
Merge onto I 87
18 mi·24 min·New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
13
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
14
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
14 mi·16 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 8Toward NY 26 North: Whitney Point, Lisle
19
Turn right onto NY 26
0.5 mi·43 sec·NY 26
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 11; NY 26
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 11; NY 26
21
Continue on US 11; NY 79
13 mi·15 min·US 11; NY 79
22
Turn right onto NY 38
7.2 mi·10 min·State Route 38
23
Continue on NY 38
3.9 mi·5 min·Dryden Harford Road
24
Continue on NY 38
0.6 mi·1 min·South Street
25
Turn right onto NY 392
151 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
NY 392
Trip Plan
Consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic leaving the Mount Vernon area. Since this is a single-day trip with a duration under five hours, you have flexibility in when you take your one recommended stop. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $37; it's wise to fill up before hitting the longest stretch of highway. A good time to refuel would be before you begin the 107.6-mile segment on Long Mountain Parkway.
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 110.2 miles from Mount Vernon, NY, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 48 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 21m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dryden, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, NY
This is one driving day of about 220.4 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Mount Vernon, 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 Long Mountain Parkway for about 107.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 194.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2 mi into trip|~3m in|Central Park Avenue
Turn right onto Central Park Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
21.2 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
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 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
6
36.8 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State T...
6
178.5 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
6
194.2 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward NY 26 North: Whitney Point, Lisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward NY 26 North: Whitney Point, Lisle
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.58 one way
$77.16 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$41.81
$83.61
premium
$5.23
$45.38
$90.76
diesel
$6.28
$54.46
$108.92
Estimated Tolls: $0.89
New York State Thruway
(17.9 mi)$0.89
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
$39
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.14
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.86
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Mount Vernon, NY
Morning
in Mount Vernon on Thursday
Local time
7:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dryden, NY
Morning
in Dryden on Thursday
Local time
7:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
57°F
New Berlin, NY
110 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
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
4h 39m 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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
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...
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...
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...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 88% of the 220.4 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. Expect a high concentration of exits and merges for a significant portion of the trip. The highway portion will transition to surface roads towards the end of your drive.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.6 mi on Long Mountain Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Mountain Parkway and NY 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near Central Park Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 220.4 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 2 miles (Central Park Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,581 ft0 ft
Total Climb
2,342 ft
Total Descent
1,357 ft
Highest Point
1,581 ft
~78.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,581 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mount Vernon, NY and Dryden, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway, Albany and Lisle.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 220.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.89 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 Dryden, 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 2 miles (Central Park Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Dryden, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
