Origin
Pulaski, NY
Afternoon in Pulaski on Sunday
Local time
4:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 52m
Distance
287.2 mi
462 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pulaski, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Pulaski, NY to Yonkers, NY is 287.2 miles and takes about 5h 52m via I 86, I 81, and Palisades Interstate Parkway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, traversing the Northeast region. It's predominantly a highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day transit. You'll encounter a mostly highway profile, so expect efficient travel times. Consider this route if you need to cover ground quickly between these two points in New York.
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
143.6 miles from Pulaski, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 129.9 mi | 2h 40m |
| I 81 | 111.7 mi | 2h 12m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| New York State Thruway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| US 6 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| I-81 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Rome Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,069 veh/hr typical · worst 1,315
Quietest
2 AM
~80 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 34 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Pulaski, NY and Yonkers, NY.
Start on CR 5
Turn right onto US 11
Turn left onto US 11
Turn left onto NY 13
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I-81
Continue on I 81
Continue on I-81
Continue on I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
Take the exit onto US 6
Enter roundabout
Continue
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Take the exit
Merge onto I 87; I 287
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
Take the exit
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
Arrive at destination
Given the 5-hour 52-minute estimated duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart Pulaski in the morning to allow ample daylight for the drive and any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. Pay attention to the transition from I 86 to the Palisades Interstate Parkway, as this is where the road type changes. Ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before starting, as the fuel cost is estimated at $47 for the 287.2-mile trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 63 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.6 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yonkers, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pulaski, 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 Pulaski, NY
This is one driving day of about 287.2 miles and 5h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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.
A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 143.6 miles from Pulaski, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 114.3 and 287.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward West Yonkers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$46.68 one way
$93.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $50.52 | $101.04 |
| premium | $4.87 | $55.02 | $110.04 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $61.09 | $122.18 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
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
$47
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.16 | $13.79 |
| Efficient EV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.13 | $11.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.9 | 1 | $40.21 | $18.38 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Pulaski on Sunday
Local time
4:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
4:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
42°F
Montague, NJ
144 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is 95% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 129.9 miles on I 86. You'll transition to surface roads for the final portion of your trip as you approach your destination. Expect a high volume of exits and interchanges as you get closer to Yonkers.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 114.3 miles in near I 86; NY 17.
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 18 significant decision points across 287.2 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 114.3 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 267 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 277.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pulaski, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
New York
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
White Plains
New York State Thruway South
Pulaski is a village in Central New York.
Founded 1646
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 287.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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