Mount Vernon, NY to Lancaster, NY is 368.6 miles and takes about 7 hours 44 minutes via Gramatan Avenue, West 1st Street, and West Lincoln Avenue, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York State, traversing a largely surface-road profile. With no significant highway driving, expect a more local feel with frequent intersections and potential for varied traffic. This route is a solid option for a single-day drive if you prefer avoiding major interstates and want to see more of the towns along the way. Plan for approximately 2 planned stops to break up the 7 hours and 44 minutes of driving time.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
184.3 miles from Mount Vernon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
I 86
100 mi
1h 56m
Genesee Expressway
38.6 mi
44m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
New York State Thruway
17.9 mi
24m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
Broadway Road
13.9 mi
19m
Broadway Street
10.7 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Traffic on I-86
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,216 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,744
Quietest
2 AM
~84 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Lancaster, 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 left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
39 mi·44 min·Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 7Toward NY 408, NY 63: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
19
Turn right onto NY 408
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mount Morris-Geneseo Road
20
Continue on NY 63
3.3 mi·4 min·Geneseo-Mount Morris Road
21
Turn left onto NY 63
1.3 mi·1 min·Genesee Street
22
Enter roundabout onto NY 63
100 ft·1 sec·Genesee Street
23
Continue on NY 63
7.5 mi·11 min·Genesee Street
24
Continue on NY 63
0.7 mi·54 sec·State Highway 63
25
Continue on NY 63
4.1 mi·6 min·Big Tree Road
26
Continue on NY 63
3.0 mi·4 min·Ellicott Street Road
27
Turn left onto US 20
6.5 mi·8 min·Telephone Road
28
Continue on US 20
14 mi·19 min·Broadway Road
29
Continue on US 20
1.6 mi·3 min·Broadway Street
30
Continue on US 20
9.1 mi·15 min·Broadway Street
31
Turn right
45 ft·3 sec
32
Turn left
71 ft·5 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 7 hour 44 minute duration and surface road profile, an early morning departure from Mount Vernon is recommended to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic delays. With 2 planned stops, aim to take one roughly halfway through the drive, around the 4-hour mark, to rest and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since you're not on major highways where stations are always readily available; the estimated $61 fuel cost is a good baseline. The lack of highway driving means you'll be passing through many communities, so be mindful of local speed limits and pedestrian activity.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.3 miles from Mount Vernon, NY, or about 3h 52m 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 81 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.3 miles or 3h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lancaster, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mount Vernon, NY
This is one driving day of about 368.6 miles and 7h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Mount Vernon, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 317.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Gramatan Avenue
Turn left onto Gramatan Avenue
Navigation decision point
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
317.1 mi into trip|~6h 26m in
Take the exit toward NY 408, NY 63: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward NY 408, NY 63: Mount Morris, Letchworth...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.52 one way
$129.04 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$69.92
$139.84
premium
$5.23
$75.90
$151.79
diesel
$6.28
$91.08
$182.15
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
$65
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.6
1
$38.70
$17.69
Efficient EV
92.2
1
$32.25
$14.74
EV Truck/SUV
147.4
1
$51.60
$23.59
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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 19, 2026
Origin
Mount Vernon, NY
Late night
in Mount Vernon on Thursday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lancaster, NY
Late night
in Lancaster on Thursday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
S 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
53°F
Hamilton, NY
184 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
5 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
7h 44m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 entirely on surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating through towns and local areas for the full 368.6 miles, so anticipate dealing with traffic lights and varying speed limits. The longest stretch of continuous driving without a significant break isn't specified, but given the profile, expect frequent changes in scenery and road conditions. Be prepared for urban merging and local traffic patterns as you make your way across the state.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 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 I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gramatan 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 21 significant decision points across 368.6 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: near the start (Gramatan Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,595 ft108 ft
Total Climb
3,123 ft
Total Descent
2,559 ft
Highest Point
1,595 ft
~105.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,487 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 Lancaster, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Letchworth Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 44m. Total distance: 368.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 44m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
Yes — we found about 20 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 Lancaster, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Gramatan Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lancaster, NY before the return drive.
