Suffern, NY to Tonawanda, NY is 352.2 miles and takes about 7h 26m via NY 17 and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, traveling from the state's northeast region to its northeast region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. With a drive time just over seven hours, this route is manageable as a single-day trip, but you could easily break it up if you prefer 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
176.1 miles from Suffern, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
134.6 mi
2h 46m
New York State Thruway
112.1 mi
2h 9m
I 81
39.3 mi
46m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Chase Street
9.8 mi
11m
East Genesee Street
7.3 mi
13m
Youngmann Expressway
6.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 134.6 mi, about 2h 46m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,020 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~94 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 3 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 Suffern, NY and Tonawanda, NY.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
40 ft·8 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Continue on Washington Avenue
114 ft·12 sec·Washington Avenue
3
Turn sharp left onto NY 59
0.3 mi·30 sec·Lafayette Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 202; 59
0.5 mi·42 sec·Orange Avenue
5
Continue on NY 59
1.2 mi·1 min·Orange Turnpike
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 87 North: New York State Thruway
7
Merge onto I 87
13 mi·14 min·New York State Thruway
8
Take the exit
1.5 mi·3 min
Exit 16Toward US 6, NY 17: HarrimanUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
152 ft·3 sec·this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward NY 17 West: BinghamtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on NY 17
135 mi·2 hr 46 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
15
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
16
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
17
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
19
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
20
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
21
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
22
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
23
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
24
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
25
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
26
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
27
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
29
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
30
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
31
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
32
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
33
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
35
Merge onto I 90
100 mi·1 hr 55 min·New York State Thruway
36
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Exit 50Toward I 290: Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 290
6.1 mi·8 min·Youngmann Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 2Toward NY 425: Colvin BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
39
Turn right onto NY 425
1.2 mi·2 min·Twin Cities Memorial Highway
40
Turn left onto Fillmore Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Fillmore Avenue
41
Turn left onto Fremont Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Fremont Street
42
Turn right onto Young Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Young Street
43
Continue on Broad Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Broad Street
44
Turn right onto NY 265
0.1 mi·21 sec·Seymour Street
45
Arrive at destination
NY 265
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential traffic around metropolitan areas. You'll have two planned stops, which is a good number for a trip of this length, allowing you to stretch your legs without significantly extending your travel time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're on the surface road portions, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate. Given the 352.2-mile distance, it’s a feasible one-day trip, but if you want to enjoy the drive more, splitting it into two days is also a great option.
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 176.1 miles from Suffern, NY, or about 3h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.6 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 77 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.1 miles or 3h 37m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tonawanda, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Suffern, 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 Suffern, NY
This is one driving day of about 352.2 miles and 7h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Suffern, 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 NY 17 for about 134.6 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.8 and 343.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
14.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward US 6, NY 17: Harriman
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16
Toward US 6, NY 17: Harriman
7
16.3 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 17 West: Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 17 West: Binghamton
7
242.7 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
242.9 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
343.1 mi into trip|~7h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.98 one way
$113.95 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$61.83
$123.66
premium
$4.85
$67.22
$134.45
diesel
$4.80
$66.50
$133.00
Estimated Tolls: $5.70
New York State Thruway
(112.1 mi)$5.61
Orange Turnpike
(1.2 mi)$0.09
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
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.7
1
$36.98
$16.91
Efficient EV
88.1
1
$30.82
$14.09
EV Truck/SUV
140.9
1
$49.31
$22.54
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Suffern, NY
Late night
in Suffern on Monday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Smoke
NW 1 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tonawanda, NY
Late night
in Tonawanda on Monday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Smoke
SW 1 to 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Hamilton, NY
176 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
2 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
7h 26m 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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 230.8
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 242.9
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 54% highway travel. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving, 134.6 miles, on NY 17. After that, you'll transition to the New York State Thruway and I 81, offering a different driving feel. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for changes in speed limits and exit density as you move between these road types.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 134.6 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 14.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 29 significant decision points across 352.2 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 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 242.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,741 ft312 ft
Total Climb
2,402 ft
Total Descent
2,135 ft
Highest Point
1,741 ft
~75.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,430 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Suffern, NY to Tonawanda, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Tonawanda is the name of both a city in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York, and the unincorporated suburban township that surrounds it. The incorporated village of Kenmore also makes up part of the Town of Tonawanda. All three of these places are covered in this article.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 26m. Total distance: 352.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 26m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 134.6 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.70 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 Tonawanda, 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 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 242.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights 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 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tonawanda, NY before the return drive.
