Origin
Stafford, NY
Late night in Stafford on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stafford, NY to Yonkers, 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 6m
Distance
344.8 mi
555 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 56m
★
6 AM
7h 7m
8 AM
7h 29m
10 AM
7h 15m
12 PM
7h 12m
3 PM
7h 16m
5 PM
7h 28m
8 PM
7h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stafford, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 344.8-mile journey from Stafford to Yonkers, NY, is a substantial drive, estimated to take around 7 hours and 6 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused experience, with 88% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-86 and the Southern Tier Expressway. While doable in a single day, consider that the longest stretch without a planned stop is nearly 130 miles. With an estimated fuel cost of $57, this trip offers a direct path across New York State. Given the duration and highway nature, it’s best suited for a day trip if you're comfortable with extended driving, or you could break it up for a more relaxed pace.
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
172.4 miles from Stafford, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 129.9 mi | 2h 40m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| Genesee Expressway | 38.2 mi | 44m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| New York State Thruway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| Genesee Street | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| US 6 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on NY 5
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street Road
2
Continue on NY 5
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Road
3
Continue on NY 5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
4
Turn right onto NY 19
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Clay Street
5
Continue on NY 19
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Wolcott Street
6
Continue on NY 19
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Warsaw Road
7
Continue on NY 19
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Lake Street
8
Turn left onto NY 63
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Big Tree Road
9
Continue on NY 63
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
State Highway 63
10
Continue on NY 63
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Genesee Street
11
Enter roundabout onto NY 63
108 ft
·
1 sec
·
Genesee Street
12
Continue on NY 63
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Genesee Street
13
Merge onto US 20A; NY 39; NY 63
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Geneseo-Mount Morris Road
14
Continue on NY 408
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Mount Morris-Geneseo Road
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
16
Merge onto I 390
38 mi
·
44 min
·
Genesee Expressway
17
Merge onto I 86
105 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
130 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
US 6
Exit 130A
Toward US 6: Bear Mountain
20
Enter roundabout
346 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
21
Continue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
22
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Use the right lane.
24
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
New York State Thruway
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
29
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Yonkers Avenue
30
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Nepperhan Avenue
31
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive from Stafford to Yonkers, aim for an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic closer to Yonkers. With 2 recommended stops, plan to break up the 344.8 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch is almost 130 miles, so be mindful of your fuel levels, especially as you approach that point. Given the highway focus, keeping your gas tank at least half full is a good practice. This route prioritizes speed, so consider using your planned stops for quick breaks rather than extended sightseeing.
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 172.4 miles from Stafford, NY, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 76 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.4 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 49m
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 Stafford, 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 Stafford, NY
This is one driving day of about 344.8 miles and 7h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Stafford, 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 86 for about 129.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 172.4 miles from Stafford, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 171.9 and 344.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
171.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m in
|
I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New York
8
324.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 38m in
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
Use the right lane.
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, W...
7
335.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 53m 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
343.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 4m 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
344.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 6m 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
$56.76 one way
$113.51 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $61.37 | $122.74 |
| premium | $4.92 | $66.83 | $133.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.13 | $152.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
New York State Thruway
(10.2 mi)
$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
$57
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: 120.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.20 | $16.55 |
| Efficient EV | 86.2 | 0 | $30.17 | $13.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.9 | 1 | $48.27 | $22.07 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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
Yonkers, NY
Late night in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
12 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 6m 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 344.8
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 344.8
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 344.8
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 344.8
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
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 344.8
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 344.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric drive for most of this 344.8-mile trip, with 88% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-86 and the Southern Tier Expressway, which form the backbone of this journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a considerable 129.9 miles on I-86, meaning you'll want to plan your fuel and rest stops strategically. This route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing direct travel over winding scenic detours, making it a straightforward drive from start to finish.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.9 mi on I 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 171.9 miles in near I 86; NY 17.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 344.8 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 171.9 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 324.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 335.3 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stafford, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
New York
171.9 mi in
|
~3h 30m
|
via I 86; NY 17
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
308.9 mi in
|
~6h 19m
White Plains
324.6 mi in
|
~6h 38m
New York State Thruway South
324.6 mi in
|
~6h 38m
About the Cities
Starting in Stafford, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Yonkers, NY
Full guide →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
- • Untermyer Park — public garden
- • Hudson River Museum — museum in Yonkers, N.Y.
- • Glenview Mansion — historic house in New York, United States
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 6m. Total distance: 344.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.9 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.51 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 171.9 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 324.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 335.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 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.
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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