Planning a trip from Ontario County, NY, to Oyster Bay, NY? This approximately 317-mile journey will take about 7 hours to complete. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including the Keystone Shortway, I-81, and I-380, with nearly half of your drive on highways. It's a feasible day trip, but factor in the estimated $52 fuel cost and the single recommended stop. This route stays within the Northeast region, offering a direct path across New York State.
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
158.4 miles from Ontario County, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 81
73.5 mi
1h 28m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
State Highway 96A
17.1 mi
23m
State Highway 79
15.2 mi
17m
Northern Boulevard
14.5 mi
24m
Routes 5 and 20
11.2 mi
17m
Slaterville Road
11.1 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 80 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,190 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,979
Quietest
1 AM
~446 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Ontario County, NY and Oyster Bay, NY.
1
Start on this road
138 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Middle Cheshire Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Middle Cheshire Road
3
Turn right onto US 20; NY 5; NY 21
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Boulevard
4
Continue on US 20; NY 5
2.0 mi·3 min·Eastern Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 20; NY 5
11 mi·17 min·Routes 5 and 20
6
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi·1 min·Canandaigua Road
7
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.4 mi·3 min·Hamilton Street
8
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.1 mi·1 min·Lake Front Drive
9
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.6 mi·2 min·Waterloo-Geneva Road
10
Turn right onto NY 96A
10 mi·14 min·State Highway 96A
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 96A
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 96A
12
Continue on NY 96A
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Street
13
Continue on NY 96
485 ft·13 sec·North Town Line Road
14
Continue on NY 96
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 96
15
Turn left onto Center Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Center Road
16
Turn right onto NY 89
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 89
17
Turn right onto CR 141
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 141
18
Continue on CR 141A
1.5 mi·2 min·Powell Road
19
Turn left onto NY 96
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 96
20
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi·11 sec·Trumansburg Road
21
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
22
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi·12 min·Trumansburg Road
23
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi·2 min·Cliff Street
24
Continue on NY 96
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Buffalo Street
25
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
523 ft·24 sec·Taughannock Boulevard
26
Turn left onto NY 79
510 ft·11 sec·West State Street
27
Turn right onto NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79
345 ft·12 sec·South Fulton Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto NY 79
0.8 mi·2 min·West Green Street
Use the slight left lane.
29
Continue on NY 79
1.1 mi·2 min·East State Street
30
Continue on NY 79
11 mi·16 min·Slaterville Road
31
Continue on NY 79
15 mi·17 min·State Highway 79
32
Continue on NY 79
3.1 mi·3 min·Main Street
33
Turn right onto NY 26
0.6 mi·47 sec·NY 26
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 South
35
Merge onto I 81
20 mi·24 min·I 81
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
40
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
41
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
43
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
45
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
47
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
48
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
49
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
50
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
52
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
54
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
56
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
58
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
59
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
60
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 5Toward NY 25A: Northern BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
62
Continue on Clearview Expressway
457 ft·17 sec·Clearview Expressway
63
Turn left onto NY 25A
15 mi·24 min·Northern Boulevard
Use the left lane.
64
Turn left onto NY 106
0.3 mi·29 sec·Jericho Oyster Bay Road
65
Turn straight onto NY 106
0.5 mi·46 sec·Oyster Bay Road
66
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 106
260 ft·4 sec·Oyster Bay Road
67
Continue on NY 106
0.9 mi·1 min·Pine Hollow Road
Use the left lane.
68
Continue on NY 106
105 ft·5 sec·South Street
69
Turn right onto Berry Hill Road
112 ft·9 sec·Berry Hill Road
70
Continue on Berry Hill Road
64 ft·2 sec·Berry Hill Road
71
Arrive at destination
Berry Hill Road
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour estimated duration, starting your drive from Ontario County early in the morning is your best bet for reaching Oyster Bay in a single day. With only one stop recommended, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the 80-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between highway and local roads, and be mindful of the $52 fuel cost. This route offers flexibility, so enjoy the journey and the changing scenery as you head east.
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 158.4 miles from Ontario County, NY, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 70 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.4 miles or 3h 36m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oyster Bay, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ontario County, 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 Ontario County, NY
This is one driving day of about 316.8 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Ontario County, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 80 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 37
5 decision points cluster between mile 116.1 and 293.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
284 mi into trip|~6h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
284.3 mi into trip|~6h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
293.7 mi into trip|~6h 19m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.45 one way
$110.90 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$60.09
$120.18
premium
$5.23
$65.23
$130.46
diesel
$6.28
$78.28
$156.55
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
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
$55
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95
1
$33.26
$15.21
Efficient EV
79.2
0
$27.72
$12.67
EV Truck/SUV
126.7
1
$44.35
$20.28
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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
Ontario County, NY
Late night
in Ontario County on Friday
Local time
5:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Oyster Bay, NY
Late night
in Oyster Bay on Friday
Local time
5:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NE 6 to 9 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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 57m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 284.1
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 284.1
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 21.9
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 284.1
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 284.1
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 284.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for a significant portion of this trip, though 49% of it is on highways. While there's a solid 80-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, much of the drive involves navigating various road types. This suggests a journey that requires attention and adaptability, moving between faster-paced highway sections and more winding, local roads. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed and direction as you progress toward Oyster Bay.
Only 49% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
71 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 116.1 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort10/10
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 37 significant decision points across 316.8 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 116.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,920 ft46 ft
Total Climb
1,826 ft
Total Descent
2,753 ft
Highest Point
1,920 ft
~181.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,874 ft
Notable High Points
1,920 ft at ~181.1 miles+636 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ontario County, NY and Oyster Bay, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
Wine and water define the Finger Lakes, a region of New York state south of Lake Ontario. Eleven elegantly elongated bodies of water arrayed across 80 mi (130 km) of rolling countryside have produced one of the top wine regions in the country, the East Coast answer to California's Napa Valley.
While the wineries that dot the slopes above the Finger Lakes—over a hundred of them—are a major draw, visitors also enjoy the region's many waterways, from the Finger Lakes themselves and Lake Ontario, to the mighty Genesee River and the historic Erie Canal. In the fall, leaf-peepers turn out in force, and wintertime sees skiers heading to the area's slopes.
After a day enjoying the sights and tastes of the Finger Lakes, head to Rochester, the state's third-largest city, for urban amenities and nightlife, or enjoy the college-town atmosphere of Ithaca overlooking Cayuga's waters.
Top landmarks
•North Main Street Historic District — listed on the NRHP in Ontario County
Oyster Bay is one of three towns in Nassau County, on Long Island, New York.
The town of Oyster Bay comprises a large portion of eastern Nassau County and includes a slew of villages and other communities. This article covers North Oyster Bay – the area closest to Oyster Bay itself (in other words, everything that is north of the Long Island Expressway). See South Oyster Bay for the southern half of the town (in other words, the area south of the expressway). See the article for Glen Cove for communities in the northwest part of the town that are closest to that city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 57m. Total distance: 316.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.55 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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 26 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 Oyster Bay, 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 116.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Women's Rights National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oyster Bay, NY before the return drive.
