New Rochelle, NY to Canandaigua, NY is 291.1 miles and takes about 6h 27m via Long Mountain Parkway and NY 17, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region towards its western part. It's a predominantly highway drive, making it efficient for a single-day trip. You'll find the route straightforward, suitable for those looking to cover ground without extensive detours.
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
145.5 miles from New Rochelle, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
US 11
30.6 mi
40m
New York State Thruway
17.9 mi
24m
State Highway 96A
17.1 mi
23m
I 81
15.8 mi
19m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
Routes 5 and 20
11.2 mi
17m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 New Rochelle, NY and Canandaigua, NY.
1
Start on North Avenue
145 ft·30 sec·North Avenue
2
Continue on North Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
2.1 mi·3 min·Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto NY 22
0.4 mi·43 sec·North Columbus Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Cross County Parkway WestUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto Cross County Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·Cross County Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
0.6 mi·56 sec·Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Toward Exits 5 - 4N - 4SUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 4NToward Central Park Avenue NorthUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Central Park Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·Central Park Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 87 North, New York State Thruway North: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Albany
11
Merge onto I 87
18 mi·24 min·New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
15
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
16
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
14 mi·16 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 8Toward NY 26 North: Whitney Point, Lisle
21
Turn right onto NY 26
0.5 mi·43 sec·NY 26
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 11; NY 26
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 11; NY 26
23
Continue on US 11; NY 79
31 mi·39 min·US 11; NY 79
24
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 79
0.1 mi·19 sec·Seneca Way
25
Continue on NY 79
0.9 mi·2 min·East Seneca Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
338 ft·15 sec·Taughannock Boulevard
27
Turn left onto NY 96
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Buffalo Street
28
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi·2 min·Cliff Street
29
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi·12 min·Trumansburg Road
30
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi·2 min·East Main Street
31
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi·11 sec·Trumansburg Road
32
Continue on NY 96
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 96
33
Turn right onto CR 141A
1.5 mi·2 min·Powell Road
34
Continue on CR 141
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 141
35
Turn left onto NY 89
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 89
36
Turn left onto Center Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Center Road
37
Turn right onto NY 96
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 96
38
Continue on NY 96
485 ft·15 sec·North Town Line Road
39
Continue on NY 96A
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Street
40
Continue on NY 96A
17 mi·23 min·State Highway 96A
41
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.6 mi·2 min·Waterloo-Geneva Road
42
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.1 mi·1 min·Lake Front Drive
43
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.4 mi·3 min·Hamilton Street
44
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi·1 min·Canandaigua Road
45
Continue on US 20; NY 5
11 mi·17 min·Routes 5 and 20
46
Continue on US 20; NY 5
2.0 mi·3 min·Eastern Boulevard
47
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; NY 5
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Boulevard
48
Turn right onto Middle Cheshire Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Middle Cheshire Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
49
Turn right onto Parrish Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Parrish Street
50
Turn right
350 ft·27 sec
51
At end of road, turn right
166 ft·12 sec
52
Turn right
41 ft·2 sec
53
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6.5-hour drive, consider leaving New Rochelle in the morning to arrive in Canandaigua with plenty of daylight. The route is designed for a single day, so you won't need to break it up, but plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway stretches, as services can become less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $48 is a good budget baseline for this 291.1-mile trip.
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 145.5 miles from New Rochelle, NY, or about 3h 7m 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 64 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.5 miles or 3h 7m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canandaigua, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Rochelle, 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 New Rochelle, NY
This is one driving day of about 291.1 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from New Rochelle, 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 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 38.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward Cross County Parkway West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Cross County Parkway West
7
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Keep slight right at fork onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes) toward Exits 5 - 4N - 4S
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Exits 5 - 4N - 4S
7
4.7 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward Central Park Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4N
Toward Central Park Avenue North
8
23.3 mi into trip|~34m 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
38.9 mi into trip|~53m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.09 one way
$94.18 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$51.10
$102.21
premium
$4.85
$55.56
$111.12
diesel
$4.80
$54.97
$109.93
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
$47
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.3
1
$30.57
$13.97
Efficient EV
72.8
0
$25.47
$11.64
EV Truck/SUV
116.4
1
$40.75
$18.63
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
New Rochelle, NY
Morning
in New Rochelle on Sunday
Local time
11:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 2:45PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Canandaigua, NY
Morning
in Canandaigua on Sunday
Local time
11:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Areas Of Smoke then Partly Cloudy
SE 3 to 8 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 2:45PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
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
6h 27m 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.
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...
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...
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?
Expect to spend about 80% of your time on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. After this, you'll transition to surface roads, indicated by NY 17 and US 11, for the remaining portion of your drive. You'll notice a significant amount of highway cruising, with exits spaced out as you move further from urban areas.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 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 NY 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 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 33 significant decision points across 291.1 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Cross County Parkway (local lanes)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,737 ft91 ft
Total Climb
2,729 ft
Total Descent
2,285 ft
Highest Point
1,737 ft
~104 mi in
Elevation Range
1,647 ft
Notable High Points
905 ft at ~41.6 miles+512 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Rochelle, NY and Canandaigua, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway, Albany and Lisle.
One of the oldest cities in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Canandaigua has a long history as a major crossroads. Its name derives from a Seneca word meaning "The Chosen Spot", and its position at the northern end of Canandaigua Lake certainly justifies the moniker. With a well-preserved historic downtown, a magnificent 19th-century mansion with gardens, a modern and very trendy wine and culinary center, and (of course) the always-excellent boating on the lake, Canandaigua today has just as much to offer a visitor as it did in its heyday... if not more.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 291.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m 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.
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 Canandaigua, 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Cross County Parkway (local lanes)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Women's Rights National Historical Park, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and General Grant 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 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Canandaigua, NY before the return drive.
