Ossining to Tonawanda is 360.2 miles and takes about 7h 42m via Long Mountain Parkway and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a trip that mixes highway cruising with some surface road driving, making it a good option for a single-day journey if you get an early start. Keep in mind the estimated fuel cost and duration when planning your departure.
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
180.1 miles from Ossining, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 14m
New York State Thruway
99.6 mi
1h 55m
I 81
39.3 mi
46m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Chase Street
9.8 mi
11m
US 9
9.2 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 14m
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 Ossining, NY and Tonawanda, NY.
1
Start on NY 133
51 ft·9 sec·Upper Croton Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto US 9
1.5 mi·3 min·North Highland Avenue
3
Take the ramp onto US 9
9.2 mi·13 min·US 9
4
Turn left onto US 6; US 9; US 202
0.2 mi·12 sec·US 6; US 9; US 202
5
Enter roundabout onto Bear Mountain Bridge Road
128 ft·1 sec·Bear Mountain Bridge Road
6
Continue on Bear Mountain Bridge Road
4.2 mi·7 min·Bear Mountain Bridge Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Turn slight right onto US 6; US 202
319 ft·7 sec·US 6; US 202
8
Enter roundabout onto US 6
295 ft·4 sec·Palisades Interstate Parkway
9
Continue on US 6
2.5 mi·3 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.3 mi·21 sec·US 6
Exit 18Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
11
Enter roundabout onto US 6
177 ft·2 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
12
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
17
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
18
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
19
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
21
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
22
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
23
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
24
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
25
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
26
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
27
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
28
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
29
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
31
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
32
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
33
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
34
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
35
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
37
Merge onto I 90
100 mi·1 hr 55 min·New York State Thruway
38
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Exit 50Toward I 290: Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 290
6.1 mi·8 min·Youngmann Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 2Toward NY 425: Colvin BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
41
Turn right onto NY 425
1.2 mi·2 min·Twin Cities Memorial Highway
42
Turn left onto Fillmore Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Fillmore Avenue
43
Turn left onto Fremont Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Fremont Street
44
Turn right onto Young Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Young Street
45
Continue on Broad Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Broad Street
46
Turn right onto NY 265
0.1 mi·21 sec·Seymour Street
47
Arrive at destination
NY 265
Trip Plan
Given the 7 hour 42 minute estimated drive time, starting early in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip in one day. The route has 2 recommended stops, so factor those in for breaks and to break up the drive. With a longest stretch of 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway, plan for a longer segment of driving before your first planned stop. Your estimated fuel cost is around $59, so ensure you have adequate funds or a working payment method for gas stations along the way, especially before hitting longer stretches of highway.
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 180.1 miles from Ossining, NY, or about 3h 49m 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 79 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.1 miles or 3h 49m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tonawanda, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ossining, 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 Ossining, NY
This is one driving day of about 360.2 miles and 7h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Ossining, 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.8 and 357.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
17.8 mi into trip|~29m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive,...
7
250.7 mi into trip|~5h 30m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
250.9 mi into trip|~5h 31m 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
351.1 mi into trip|~7h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
7
357.6 mi into trip|~7h 36m in
Take the exit toward NY 425: Colvin Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward NY 425: Colvin Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.27 one way
$116.54 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$63.23
$126.47
premium
$4.85
$68.75
$137.50
diesel
$4.80
$68.01
$136.03
Estimated Tolls: $4.98
New York State Thruway
(99.6 mi)$4.98
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
$58
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.1
1
$37.82
$17.29
Efficient EV
90.1
1
$31.52
$14.41
EV Truck/SUV
144.1
1
$50.43
$23.05
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Ossining, NY
Morning
in Ossining on Sunday
Local time
11:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Smoke
N 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tonawanda, NY
Morning
in Tonawanda on Sunday
Local time
11:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Smoke
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Hamilton, NY
180 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 42m 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...
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 248.4
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 360.2 miles and is about 58% highway. You'll experience a mixed driving profile, starting with 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway before transitioning to the New York State Thruway and I 81. Expect sections of consistent highway travel interspersed with stretches on surface roads. The longest continuous highway segment is substantial, so be prepared for periods of higher speeds and potentially more traffic merging.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
47 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.8 miles in near US 6.
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 30 significant decision points across 360.2 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 17.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 250.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,388 ft163 ft
Total Climb
1,912 ft
Total Descent
1,496 ft
Highest Point
1,388 ft
~77.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,226 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ossining, NY to Tonawanda, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Tonawanda is the name of both a city in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York, and the unincorporated suburban township that surrounds it. The incorporated village of Kenmore also makes up part of the Town of Tonawanda. All three of these places are covered in this article.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 42m. Total distance: 360.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 $4.98 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 25 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 Tonawanda, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 250.9 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 (4 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 15.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tonawanda, NY before the return drive.
