Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Mount Vernon, NY to Penfield, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 45m
Distance
311.8 mi
502 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 33m
★
6 AM
6h 45m
8 AM
7h 9m
10 AM
6h 53m
12 PM
6h 51m
3 PM
6h 55m
5 PM
7h 8m
8 PM
6h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Vernon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Penfield, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Mount Vernon to Penfield is 311.8 miles and takes about 6h 45m via Long Mountain Parkway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, taking you from the Northeast region toward its western part. Given that it's mostly highway miles, you can expect a relatively straightforward trip, suitable for a single day of driving. Plan for a steady pace, as the majority of your travel will be on major interstates.
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
155.9 miles from Mount Vernon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Mountain Parkway | 107.6 mi | 2h 15m |
| New York State Thruway | 48.2 mi | 59m |
| I 81 | 39.3 mi | 46m |
| NY 17 | 33.7 mi | 40m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| Clinton Street | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| East Lake Road | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Chase Street | 9.8 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,020 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~94 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 3 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 Penfield, 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 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
Use 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 18
Toward 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
37 mi
·
43 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 52
Toward NY 13: Cortland
19
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
20
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Avenue
21
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
23
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Clinton Street
24
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
25
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
26
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
27
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Lake Street
28
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Genesee Street
29
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Fulton Street
30
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial West
31
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Chase Street
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
33
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 318
34
Continue on NY 318
319 ft
·
10 sec
·
NY 318
Use the right lane.
35
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
State Route 414
Use the right lane.
36
Continue on NY 414
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
37
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Use the left lane.
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Merge onto I 90
30 mi
·
34 min
·
New York State Thruway
40
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 45
Toward I 490: Rochester
Use the slight right lane.
41
Continue on I 490
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Eastern Expressway
42
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 25
Toward NY 31F: Fairport, East Rochester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft
·
4 sec
Toward NY 31F East: Fairport
44
Turn straight onto NY 31F
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Fairport Road
45
Turn left onto NY 153
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Washington Street
46
Turn right onto CR 15
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Linden Avenue
Use the right lane.
47
At end of road, turn left onto CR 17
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Whitney Road
48
Continue on CR 18
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Five Mile Line Road
49
Turn right onto NY 441
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
Penfield Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
50
Arrive at destination
NY 441
Trip Plan
For this 6h 45m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with stops, but consider a break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $52, and plan your last fill-up accordingly. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic congestion when merging onto the New York State Thruway, especially if you depart during peak commuting hours.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 155.9 miles from Mount Vernon, NY, or about 3h 18m 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 69 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.9 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Penfield, 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 311.8 miles and 6h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
156 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 155.9 miles from Mount Vernon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Long Mountain Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Whitney Point Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
East Branch Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Clifton Springs Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Junius Ponds Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Seneca Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Roscoe
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.5 mi from route
Rest Area
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.7 mi from route
Middletown Rest Area
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 345 decision points cluster between mile 21.2 and 309 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
269.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 51m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
270 mi into trip
|
~5h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
300.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 490: Rochester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 45
Toward I 490: Rochester
8
309 mi into trip
|
~6h 38m in
Take the exit toward NY 31F: Fairport, East Rochester
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 25
Toward NY 31F: Fairport, East Rochester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.44 one way
$100.88 round trip
$4.11/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $54.74 | $109.47 |
| premium | $4.85 | $59.51 | $119.02 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $58.87 | $117.75 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.41
New York State Thruway
(48.2 mi)
$2.41
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
$50
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.5 | 1 | $32.74 | $14.97 |
| Efficient EV | 78 | 0 | $27.28 | $12.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.7 | 1 | $43.65 | $19.96 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Origin
Mount Vernon, NY
Morning in Mount Vernon on Sunday
Local time
11:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Penfield, NY
Morning in Penfield on Sunday
Local time
11:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Areas Of Smoke
N 10 mph
0% chance
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
4 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
6h 45m 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.
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 258
View on nps.gov
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 268.8
View on nps.gov
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 68% of your 311.8 miles on the highway. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. After that, expect the road to transition to surface streets or have more frequent exits as you approach your destination. The highway portion means you'll likely encounter areas with many on- and off-ramps.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Mountain Parkway and New York State Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 34 significant decision points across 311.8 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 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 269.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 270 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,373 ft
108 ft
Total Climb
1,898 ft
Total Descent
1,584 ft
Highest Point
1,373 ft
~111.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,265 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Penfield, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Albany.
Palisades Parkway North
21.2 mi in
|
~31m
Bear Mountain
21.2 mi in
|
~31m
New York State Thruway
36.8 mi in
|
~49m
Albany
178.5 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via I 81
About the Cities
Starting in Mount Vernon, NY
Full guide →Founded 1892
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County in New York.
Top landmarks
- • Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site — national Historic Site of the United States
- • Trinity Episcopal Church Complex — church building in Mount Vernon, New York, United States
Arriving in Penfield, NY
Full guide →Founded 1810
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 311.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 45m 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 $2.41 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 17 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 Penfield, 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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 269.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 270 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Penfield, NY before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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