Origin
Sterling, NY
Afternoon in Sterling on Sunday
Local time
2:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling, NY to Yonkers, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h
Distance
287.3 mi
462 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 48m
★
6 AM
6h 1m
8 AM
6h 27m
10 AM
6h 10m
12 PM
6h 7m
3 PM
6h 11m
5 PM
6h 25m
8 PM
5h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sterling, NY to Yonkers, NY covers 287.3 miles and takes about 6h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 86, I 81, Palisades Interstate Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 129.9 miles on I 86. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
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 Sterling, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 129.9 mi | 2h 40m |
| I 81 | 75.3 mi | 1h 29m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| NY 3 | 11.4 mi | 17m |
| New York State Thruway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| State Route 48 | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| I 690 | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,058 veh/hr typical · worst 1,330
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 34 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on NY 104A
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 104A
2
Turn right onto NY 3
11 mi
·
17 min
·
NY 3
3
Turn right onto NY 48
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Street South
4
Continue on NY 48
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 48
5
Continue on NY 690
7.0 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 690
6
Continue on I 690
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 690
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 81
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I-81
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
I-81
10
Continue on I 81
73 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
US 6
Exit 130A
Toward US 6: Bear Mountain
13
Enter roundabout
346 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
14
Continue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
15
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
New York State Thruway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Yonkers Avenue
23
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Nepperhan Avenue
24
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.6 miles from Sterling, NY, or about 3h 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 63 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.6 miles or 3h 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 53m
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 Sterling, 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 Sterling, NY
This is one driving day of about 287.3 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Sterling, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break 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
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 143.6 miles from Sterling, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 114.4 and 287.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
114.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m 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
267.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 32m 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
277.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 47m 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
286 mi into trip
|
~5h 58m 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
287.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 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
$46.69 one way
$93.38 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $50.54 | $101.08 |
| premium | $4.87 | $55.04 | $110.08 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $61.11 | $122.23 |
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
$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 | $30.17 | $13.79 |
| Efficient EV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.14 | $11.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.9 | 1 | $40.22 | $18.39 |
Gas CO2
101 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Afternoon in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
2:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
6h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
287.3 mi in 6h, mostly highway — 129.9 mi of that is on I 86.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 114.4 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 16 significant decision points across 287.3 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 114.4 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 267.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 277.7 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 Sterling, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
New York
114.4 mi in
|
~2h 24m
|
via I 86; NY 17
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
251.4 mi in
|
~5h 13m
White Plains
267.1 mi in
|
~5h 32m
New York State Thruway South
267.1 mi in
|
~5h 32m
About the Cities
Starting in Sterling, NY
Full guide →Sterling is a rural town in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The village of Fair Haven is the primary population center.
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 6h. Total distance: 287.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 114.4 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 267.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 277.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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