Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
55.5 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Caroline, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Syracuse to Caroline is 55.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via I 81 and NY13, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, making it a straightforward journey between two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway speeds with local road navigation. Given the relatively short duration and budget, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, offering flexibility for when you choose to depart.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 28.8 mi | 33m |
| Irish Settlement Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| NY13 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Cortland Road | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| West Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Midline Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Slaterville Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Lounsbery Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Caroline, NY.
Start on US 11
Turn left onto NY 92
Turn right onto Almond Street
Turn slight right
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I-81
Continue on I 81
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
At end of road, turn left onto NY 281
Continue on NY 281
Merge onto NY 13
Continue on NY 13
Continue on NY 13
Turn right onto NY 13
Continue on NY 13
Turn left onto Irish Settlement Road
Continue on CR 162
Turn right onto NY 79
Turn left onto CR 113
Continue on CR 113
Turn right onto CR 113
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Syracuse, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 0 and 30.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NY 92 / East Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Almond Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 81 South
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 11, NY 41, NY 281: Homer, Cortland, Ithaca
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.14 one way
$18.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.88 | $19.76 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.76 | $21.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Syracuse on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Caroline on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is a mixed bag, with 59% of it on highways. You'll start with a significant stretch on I 81, covering 28.8 miles without interruption, which allows for steady progress. After leaving the interstate, the route transitions to local roads like Irish Settlement Road and NY13. This change means you'll experience a shift in pace, from faster highway travel to more winding, potentially slower, rural roads as you approach your destination.
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 early in the drive near NY 92 / East Genesee Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 92 / East Genesee Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Almond Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Syracuse, NY and Caroline, NY, road signs point toward Cortland and Ithaca.
Cortland
Ithaca
Founded 1848
Syracuse is a city in Central New York. With a population of 149,000 in city proper and 662,000 in its metro area (2020), Syracuse is the fifth largest city in the state of New York, and the third largest in Upstate New York.
Top landmarks
Founded 1811
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 55.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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