Origin
Saratoga Springs, NY
Late night in Saratoga Springs on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
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
3h 34m
Distance
176.6 mi
284 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saratoga Springs, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Saratoga Springs to Yonkers is 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 34m via I 87, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, connecting the Northeast region from one point to another. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, making for a straightforward trip. Given the relatively short duration, it's an ideal route for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.3 miles from Saratoga Springs, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 87 | 118.6 mi | 2h 17m |
| Adirondack Northway | 23.8 mi | 29m |
| New York State Thruway | 20 mi | 25m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| Broadway | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Yonkers Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Nepperhan Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Broadway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,385 veh/hr typical · worst 4,146
Quietest
1 AM
~143 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 28 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Saratoga Springs, NY and Yonkers, NY.
Start on NY 29
Turn left onto US 9; NY 29; NY 50
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
Continue on I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
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
To make the most of this 176.6-mile drive, consider leaving Saratoga Springs in the morning to avoid potential midday congestion. With a driving time of around 3.5 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but you can easily break it up if desired. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services is over 100 miles on I 87. Your estimated fuel cost is around $29, so plan accordingly before you depart.
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 39 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 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 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yonkers, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saratoga Springs, 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 Saratoga Springs, NY
This is one driving day of about 176.6 miles and 3h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Saratoga Springs, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.6 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 28.5 and 176.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
$28.70 one way
$57.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $31.06 | $62.13 |
| premium | $4.87 | $33.83 | $67.66 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $37.57 | $75.13 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$29
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53 | 0 | $18.54 | $8.48 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.45 | $7.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.72 | $11.30 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Saratoga Springs on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
43°F
Montgomery, NY
88 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
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 72% of the drive on major roads like I 87 and the New York State Thruway. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 118.6 miles on I 87 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a steady flow of traffic and numerous exits as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and Adirondack Northway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.5 miles in near I 87.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 176.6 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 28.5 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.1 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 Saratoga Springs, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo and Saw Mill River Parkway South.
Albany
New York
Buffalo
Saw Mill River Parkway South
Founded 1776
Saratoga Springs is just south of the Adirondacks in upstate New York. Long a vacation destination for New Yorkers, Saratoga Springs is a pleasant town filled with swanky shops, spas and horse racing. A key battle in the Revolutionary War happened nearby. The city is also home to Skidmore College and Empire State College (SUNY).
Top landmarks
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 3h 34m. Total distance: 176.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). 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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