Potsdam to Yonkers is 339.9 miles and takes about 7h 20m via I 87 (Adirondack Northway), with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily traverses New York State, moving from the Northeast region down towards the metropolitan area. Expect a mixed drive that offers a blend of highway speeds and more varied road conditions as you approach your destination. Given the 7-hour duration, it's a manageable one-day trip, but consider starting early to allow for a comfortable pace and any unforeseen delays.
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
170 miles from Potsdam, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Adirondack Northway
77 mi
1h 30m
State Highway 56
31.4 mi
47m
State Highway 28N
30.3 mi
43m
New York State Thruway
20 mi
25m
Adirondack Trail
19.3 mi
27m
State Route 3
14.8 mi
20m
Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Potsdam, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on NY 11B
283 ft·17 sec·Elm Street
2
Turn left onto Park Street
248 ft·7 sec·Park Street
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Park Street
198 ft·7 sec·Park Street
4
Continue on NY 56
1.0 mi·2 min·Pierrepont Avenue
5
Continue on NY 56
31 mi·47 min·State Highway 56
6
At end of road, turn left onto NY 3
15 mi·20 min·State Route 3
7
Continue on NY 3
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
8
Continue on NY 3
1.2 mi·2 min·Demars Boulevard
9
Continue on NY 3
0.1 mi·30 sec·Lake Street
10
Turn left onto NY 3
282 ft·12 sec·Mill Street
11
Turn right onto NY 30
0.2 mi·33 sec·East Park Street
12
Turn left onto NY 30
1.9 mi·3 min·Wawbeek Avenue
13
Continue on NY 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Adirondack Trail
14
Continue on NY 30
0.5 mi·46 sec·Moody Road
15
Continue on NY 30
18 mi·25 min·Adirondack Trail
16
Continue on NY 30
0.3 mi·42 sec·Lake Street
17
Continue on NY 30
0.4 mi·58 sec·Adirondack Trail
18
At end of road, turn left onto NY 28N
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 28N
19
Continue on NY 28N
2.5 mi·3 min·Newcomb Road
20
Continue on NY 28N
30 mi·41 min·State Highway 28N
21
Turn slight left onto CR 30
2.8 mi·4 min·A P Morse Highway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto Donnelly Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Donnelly Road
23
Continue on CR 29
1.2 mi·1 min·County Highway 29
24
Continue on CR 19
4.8 mi·7 min·Olmstedville Road
25
Turn straight onto US 9
0.2 mi·38 sec·US 9
26
Turn left onto Valley Farm Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Valley Farm Road
27
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
28
Merge onto I 87
77 mi·1 hr 30 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
30
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
19 mi·24 min·New York State Thruway
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 7AToward Saw Mill River Parkway SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi·10 min·Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward West Yonkers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
37
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Yonkers Avenue
38
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·57 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
39
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft·5 sec·South Broadway
Use the left lane.
40
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive from Potsdam to Yonkers, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for two planned stops. The longest stretch without a break is over 118 miles on I 87, so be sure to fuel up and stretch your legs before embarking on that segment. With a fuel cost estimated around $56, it's a relatively budget-friendly trip. Since it's a single-day journey, you have flexibility, but a mid-morning departure can help you avoid the earliest rush hour traffic as you get closer to Yonkers.
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 170 miles from Potsdam, NY, or about 3h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 75 miles or 1h 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yonkers, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Potsdam, 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 Potsdam, NY
This is one driving day of about 339.9 miles and 7h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Potsdam, 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 I 87 for about 118.6 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 191.8 and 339.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
191.8 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
7
192.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 87 South: New York
7
330.4 mi into trip|~7h 6m in
Take the exit toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
7
338.6 mi into trip|~7h 17m in
Take the exit toward West Yonkers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
7
339.9 mi into trip|~7h 20m in|US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.95 one way
$111.90 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$60.50
$121.00
premium
$4.92
$65.88
$131.76
diesel
$5.61
$75.05
$150.09
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
New York State Thruway
(20 mi)$1.00
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
$56
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102
1
$35.69
$16.32
Efficient EV
85
0
$29.74
$13.60
EV Truck/SUV
136
1
$47.59
$21.75
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Potsdam, NY
Morning
in Potsdam on Tuesday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Morning
in Yonkers on Tuesday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 20m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 339.9
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 164.1
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 339.9
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 339.9
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 339.9
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 339.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mixed drive, with about 60% of it on highways like I 87, also known as the Adirondack Northway. You'll experience longer stretches of consistent driving, including a notable 118.6-mile segment on I 87. While much of the journey involves the efficiency of the interstate, you'll also encounter sections on State Highway 56, which can offer a change of pace. The drive progresses from potentially more rural northern New York landscapes to the increasing density of the southern part of the state.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 87.
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 191.8 miles in near I 87.
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 20 significant decision points across 339.9 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 191.8 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 192.6 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 330.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Potsdam, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York and Buffalo.
Yonkers is a city of 211,569 people (2020) in Westchester County. The third most populous city in New York state, Yonkers is a suburb of New York City and borders the Borough of the Bronx. Yonkers is known as the "City of Seven Hills," which are Park, Nodine, Ridge, Cross, Locust, Glen, and Church hills.
Top landmarks
•Untermyer Park — public garden
•Hudson River Museum — museum in Yonkers, N.Y.
•Glenview Mansion — historic house in New York, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 20m. Total distance: 339.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.00 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 Yonkers, 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 191.8 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 192.6 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 330.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Saratoga National Historical Park 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 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Yonkers, NY before the return drive.
