Syracuse to Ellenville is 172.8 miles and takes about 3h 31m via I 86, I 81, and State Highway 52, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state without a lengthy travel commitment.
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
86.4 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
76.7 mi
1h 35m
I 81
74.5 mi
1h 28m
State Highway 52
17.8 mi
21m
Main Street
1.4 mi
1m
I-81
0.8 mi
<1m
Old Monticello Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Almond Street
0.3 mi
<1m
State Highway 42
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,035 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,512
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 66 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 Syracuse, NY and Ellenville, NY.
1
Start on US 11
10 ft·5 sec·South State Street
2
Turn left onto NY 92
0.3 mi·31 sec·East Genesee Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Almond Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·Almond Street
4
Turn slight right
296 ft·5 sec
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 81 South
6
Merge onto I 81
2.0 mi·2 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I-81
0.8 mi·48 sec·I-81
8
Continue on I 81
73 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
77 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·24 sec
Exit 100Toward NY 52: Liberty
11
Enter roundabout onto NY 52
181 ft·10 sec·State Highway 52
12
Continue on NY 52
5.0 mi·6 min·State Highway 52
13
Continue on NY 52
0.4 mi·30 sec·Old Monticello Road
14
Continue on NY 52
1.3 mi·1 min·State Highway 52
15
Continue on NY 52
1.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
16
Continue on NY 42; NY 52
0.3 mi·20 sec·State Highway 42
17
Turn straight onto NY 52
12 mi·13 min·State Highway 52
18
Arrive at destination
NY 52
Trip Plan
Given this is a drive under four hours, you have flexibility in when you depart. Leaving Syracuse in the morning should allow ample time to reach Ellenville before evening. The primary highways, I 86 and I 81, offer frequent rest areas and fuel stops, so you won't need to worry about planning specific refueling points. Keep an eye out for signs directing you onto State Highway 52 as you get closer to Ellenville, as this marks the final leg of your journey on a different type of road.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.4 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 38 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.4 miles or 1h 43m 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 Ellenville, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, NY
This is one driving day of about 172.8 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Syracuse, 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 76.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 152.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|NY 92 / East Genesee Street
Turn left onto NY 92 / East Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward New York
5
152.8 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward NY 52: Liberty
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 100
Toward NY 52: Liberty
5
152.9 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|NY 52 / State Highway 52
Enter roundabout onto NY 52 / State Highway 52
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.53 one way
$61.05 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$33.03
$66.06
premium
$5.28
$35.89
$71.79
diesel
$6.18
$42.04
$84.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.14
$8.29
Efficient EV
43.2
0
$15.12
$6.91
EV Truck/SUV
69.1
0
$24.19
$11.06
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Syracuse, NY
Late night
in Syracuse on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
W 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ellenville, NY
Late night
in Ellenville on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Forest City, PA
86 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
3h 31m on the road
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 98% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway at 76.7 miles on I 86. The transition to surface roads begins as you approach your destination, with State Highway 52 marking the final segment. Expect a high volume of exits on the highway portions, indicating many opportunities to pull off if needed.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.7 mi on I 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 92 / East Genesee Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 31m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 92 / East Genesee Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,707 ft340 ft
Total Climb
1,568 ft
Total Descent
1,629 ft
Highest Point
1,707 ft
~148.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,368 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 Syracuse, NY to Ellenville, NY, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
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
•Oncenter War Memorial Arena — arena in Syracuse, New York
•Everson Museum of Art — art museum in Syracuse, New York
•Niagara Mohawk Building — historic commercial building in New York, United States
Ellenville is a village within the town of Wawarsing, in Ulster County, part of the Catskills region in New York State. Ellenville is near the intersection of routes NY 52 and US 209.
The longest stretch is about 76.7 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 92 / East Genesee Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Ellenville, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
