Origin
Pelham, NY
Afternoon in Pelham on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pelham, NY to Amherst, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 56m
Distance
374.6 mi
603 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 48m
★
6 AM
7h 56m
8 AM
8h 14m
10 AM
8h 3m
12 PM
8h 1m
3 PM
8h 4m
5 PM
8h 13m
8 PM
7h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pelham, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pelham, NY to Amherst, NY is 374.6 miles and takes about 7h 56m via New York State Thruway, Long Mountain Parkway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, traversing the Northeast region on a primarily highway-based journey. With a drive time under 8 hours, it’s a manageable one-day trip, ideal for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between different major roadways on your way upstate.
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
187.3 miles from Pelham, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 117.5 mi | 2h 19m |
| Long Mountain Parkway | 107.6 mi | 2h 15m |
| 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:
New York State Thruway
— 117.5 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pelham, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on this road
154 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Pelhamwood Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Pelhamwood Avenue
3
Continue on Pelhamwood Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Pelhamwood Avenue
4
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
6
Turn right onto NY 22
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Columbus Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Cross County Parkway West
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto Cross County Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross County Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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 - 4S
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 4N
Toward Central Park Avenue North
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto Central Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Central Park Avenue
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 87 North, New York State Thruway North: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Albany
13
Merge onto I 87
18 mi
·
24 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 18
Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
17
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft
·
5 sec
·
Long Mountain Parkway
18
Continue on US 6
108 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on NY 17
34 mi
·
40 min
·
NY 17
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi
·
43 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 52
Toward NY 13: Cortland
23
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
24
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Avenue
25
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
27
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Clinton Street
28
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
29
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
30
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
31
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Lake Street
32
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Genesee Street
33
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Fulton Street
34
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial West
35
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Chase Street
Use the left lane.
36
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
37
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 318
38
Continue on NY 318
319 ft
·
10 sec
·
NY 318
Use the right lane.
39
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
State Route 414
Use the right lane.
40
Continue on NY 414
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
41
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Use the left lane.
42
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the straight / right lanes.
43
Merge onto I 90
100 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
New York State Thruway
44
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on I 290
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
46
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 6
Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Turn left onto NY 324
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
48
Turn left onto NY 263
469 ft
·
13 sec
·
Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
49
Arrive at destination
NY 263
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 56m duration, departing from Pelham, NY, early in the morning is your best bet to comfortably complete this 374.6-mile drive to Amherst, NY, within daylight hours. The route has 2 recommended stops, so plan to take breaks to stretch your legs and refuel; the longest stretch without a stop is 117.5 miles on the New York State Thruway. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $62, and ensure you're topped up before heading into those longer highway segments. This is a feasible one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your timing.
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 187.3 miles from Pelham, NY, or about 3h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 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 82 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 187.3 miles or 3h 57m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pelham, 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 Pelham, NY
This is one driving day of about 374.6 miles and 7h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Pelham, 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 New York State Thruway for about 117.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
187 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 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 187.3 miles from Pelham, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 345 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 373.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m 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
22.3 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
270.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 53m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
373.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 53m in
Take the exit toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
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 6
Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem R...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.66 one way
$123.32 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
131 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $66.68 | $133.35 |
| premium | $4.92 | $72.60 | $145.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $82.71 | $165.41 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.87
New York State Thruway
(117.5 mi)
$5.87
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
$62
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112.4 | 1 | $39.33 | $17.98 |
| Efficient EV | 93.7 | 1 | $32.78 | $14.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.8 | 1 | $52.44 | $23.97 |
Gas CO2
131 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Amherst, NY
Afternoon in Amherst on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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
7h 56m 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
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 258.4
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 271.3
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...
10 mi from route
~24 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...
11 mi from route
~26 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...
16 mi from route
~40 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...
17 mi from route
~42 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?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 55% of it on highways, indicating a good balance between faster travel and potentially more varied road conditions. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 117.5 miles on the New York State Thruway, allowing for long periods of steady progress. As you move along, the character of the drive will shift between the efficiency of major interstates and the potentially more local feel of roads like Long Mountain Parkway and I 81. Prepare for a dynamic journey that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.5 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 3.1 miles in near Cross County Parkway (local lanes).
Driving Effort
10/10
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 374.6 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: at 3.1 miles (Cross County Parkway (local lanes)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Pelham, NY and Amherst, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Albany.
Palisades Parkway North
22.3 mi in
|
~33m
Bear Mountain
22.3 mi in
|
~33m
New York State Thruway
37.8 mi in
|
~51m
Albany
179.6 mi in
|
~3h 47m
|
via I 81
About the Cities
Starting in Pelham, NY
Full guide →Founded 1788
Pelham is a town in Westchester County, New York. It contains villages called Pelham and Pelham Manor.
Arriving in Amherst, NY
Full guide →Amherst is a town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.
Top landmarks
- • Entranceway at Main Street at Roycroft Boulevard — residential landscape feature in Amherst, New York state, USA
- • Entranceways at Main Street at Lamarck Drive and Smallwood Drive — residential landscape feature in Amherst, New York state, USA
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 7h 56m. Total distance: 374.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 56m 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 117.5 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.87 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 Amherst, 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. 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 (Cross County Parkway (local lanes)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Amherst, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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