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Trip from Penfield, NY to Amherst, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 32m

Distance

75.5 mi

122 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 26m ★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Penfield, NY, NY

Penfield, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

town in New York, United States

Amherst, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 75.5-mile drive from Penfield, NY, to Amherst, NY, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 32 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the New York State Thruway, Genesee Expressway, and Outer Loop, with a significant portion of your journey on the Thruway. With a projected fuel cost of around $12, this trip is quite budget-friendly. The route is characterized by its numerous turns, suggesting a local feel rather than a continuous highway experience. It’s a straightforward journey within the Northeast region of New York, making it a convenient option for a quick regional excursion.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.8 miles from Penfield, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New York State Thruway 57.4 mi 1h 6m
Genesee Expressway 4.3 mi 5m
Outer Loop 4.2 mi 5m
Korean War Memorial Highway 2.1 mi 3m
Youngmann Expressway 1.8 mi 2m
Eastern Expressway 1 mi 1m
Sheridan Drive 0.9 mi 1m
Penfield Road 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 57.4 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Penfield, NY and Amherst, NY.

1

Start on NY 441

0.5 mi · 1 min · Penfield Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
2

Continue on NY 441

2.1 mi · 3 min · Korean War Memorial Highway
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
4

Merge onto I 490

1.0 mi · 1 min · Eastern Expressway
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Exit 21 Toward I 590 South, NY 590 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 590 South Use the slight left lane.
7

Merge onto I 590

4.2 mi · 5 min · Outer Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 390 South, I 90: Corning Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 390

4.3 mi · 5 min · Genesee Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 20 sec
Exit 12B Toward I 90: New York State Thruway
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 28 sec
Exit 12B Toward I 90: New York Thruway
12

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 6 sec · this road
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto I 90

57 mi · 1 hr 6 min · New York State Thruway
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 36 sec
Exit 50 Toward I 290: Niagara Falls Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 290

1.8 mi · 2 min · Youngmann Expressway
17

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.
18

Turn left onto NY 324

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
19

Turn left onto NY 263

469 ft · 13 sec · Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
20

Arrive at destination

NY 263

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of about 1 hour and 32 minutes, this trip is best suited for a single day. You can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay. Aim to depart when traffic is typically lighter, perhaps mid-morning or early afternoon, to make the most of the 75.5-mile journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, budgeting for gas is simple. Keep an eye out for the transitions between the New York State Thruway and the Genesee Expressway, as these are points where your route will significantly change character and potentially require more attention to navigation.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.8 miles from Penfield, NY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.4 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 17 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.8 miles or 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 17m

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 Penfield, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Penfield, NY

This is one driving day of about 75.5 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Penfield, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 57.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

capital and largest city of Latvia

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Riga, NY

38 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

Rush, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Stafford, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Penfield, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Batavia, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Flying J EV Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Pembroke, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15855994430

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Williamsville, New York

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Batavia, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Batavia, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

SWTCH Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Batavia, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18447982438

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Williamsville, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Pembroke Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Scottsville Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Ontario Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Clarence Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Channing H. Philbrick Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Penfield, New York

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+15853408655

Visit website

Washington Grove

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Rochester, New York

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+15854287581

Visit website

Jack's Place

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Penfield, New York

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

RMSC (Rochester Museum & Science Center)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Rochester, New York

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+15852714320

Visit website

The Strong National Museum of Play

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Rochester, New York

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15852632700

Visit website

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Park at Manhattan Square

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Rochester, New York

Hours: 12–8:50 pm

+15854286755

Visit website

5 Wits Buffalo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 12–8 pm

+17162730600

Visit website

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 10:30 am–2:30 pm

+17168563858

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 74.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
3.9 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 590 South, NY 590 North

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 21 Toward I 590 South, NY 590 North
7
4 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 590 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 590 South
7
8.7 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 390 South, I 90: Corning

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. Toward I 390 South, I 90: Corning
8
14.5 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
8
74.3 mi into trip | ~1h 30m 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

$12.43 one way

$24.86 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $13.44 $26.88
premium $4.92 $14.63 $29.27
diesel $5.61 $16.67 $33.34

Estimated Tolls: $2.87

New York State Thruway (57.4 mi) $2.87

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

$12

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.7 0 $7.93 $3.62
Efficient EV 18.9 0 $6.61 $3.02
EV Truck/SUV 30.2 0 $10.57 $4.83

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Penfield, NY

Late night in Penfield on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amherst, NY

Late night in Amherst on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

45°F

Riga, NY

38 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

16 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

1h 32m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" on this 75.5-mile route, despite 9% of it being on highways. While there's a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 57.4 miles on the New York State Thruway, the overall profile indicates a need to stay alert for frequent turns. This suggests a journey that blends some faster-paced highway segments with more intricate local road navigation. The character of the drive will likely shift as you transition between the major expressways and the local arteries connecting them, requiring you to adapt your driving style.

Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.4 mi on New York State Thruway.

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 3.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.5 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Penfield, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1810

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 1h 32m. Total distance: 75.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 57.4 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.87 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.

Yes — we found about 8 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 Amherst, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Amherst, NY before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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