Origin
Syracuse, NY
Morning in Syracuse on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Syracuse, NY to North Elba, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
199.4 mi
321 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 4m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 48m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
North Elba, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Syracuse to North Elba is 199.4 miles and takes about 4h 36m via State Route 3 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region towards another part of the Northeast. Expect a route that is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. With a drive time under five hours, it's a manageable one-day trip for most travelers.
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
99.7 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 3 | 82.8 mi | 1h 57m |
| I 81 | 68.2 mi | 1h 19m |
| Tupper Lake Highway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 3A | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Saranac-Placid Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| US 11 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Tupper-Saranac Highway | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Old Military Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 3
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and North Elba, NY.
1
Start on US 11
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
South State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto East Willow Street
254 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Willow Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Pearl Street
406 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pearl Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 81 North
5
Merge onto I 81
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 46
Toward NY 12F: Airport
7
Turn right onto NY 12F
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Coffeen Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 11; NY 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Massey Street
9
Continue on Leray Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Leray Street
10
Enter roundabout onto US 11
183 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 11
11
Continue on US 11
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 11
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 11
13
Turn right onto NY 342
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
NY 342
14
Turn left onto Pearl Street Road
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Pearl Street Road
15
Continue on Pearl Street Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pearl Street Road
16
Continue on Gray Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Gray Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto Gray Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Gray Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto NY 3
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 3
19
Turn left onto NY 3A; CR 36
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 3A
20
At end of road, turn left onto NY 3
16 mi
·
22 min
·
State Route 3
21
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
22
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
State Street
23
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
State Highway 812
24
Continue on NY 3
57 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
State Route 3
25
Continue on NY 3
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
26
Continue on NY 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Demars Boulevard
27
Turn left onto Santa Clara Avenue
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Santa Clara Avenue
28
Turn right onto McLaughlin Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
McLaughlin Avenue
29
Turn left onto NY 3; NY 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Park Street
30
Continue on NY 3; NY 30
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Tupper-Saranac Highway
31
Continue on NY 3; NY 30
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Adirondack Trail
32
Continue on NY 3
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Tupper Lake Highway
33
Continue on NY 3
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 3
34
Continue on NY 3
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Algonquin Street
35
Continue on NY 3
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
George H Lapan Memorial Highway
36
Continue on NY 3
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
37
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 86
304 ft
·
8 sec
·
River Street
38
Turn slight right onto NY 86
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Flower Avenue
39
Continue on NY 86
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Saranac-Placid Road
40
Turn right onto CR 35
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Old Military Road
41
Turn straight onto NY 73
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Cascade Road
42
Arrive at destination
NY 73
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 36m estimated drive time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider leaving Syracuse in the morning to allow ample time for any brief stops you might need. The longest stretch without a major road change is 82.8 miles on State Route 3, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. With a low estimated fuel cost of $33, budgeting for gas should be straightforward.
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 99.7 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.7 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Elba, 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 199.4 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 State Route 3 for about 82.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.7 miles from Syracuse, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Route 3 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.8 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 0.4 and 68.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Willow Street
Turn left onto East Willow Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Pearl Street
Turn right onto Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 81 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 81 North
5
0.7 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
68.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward NY 12F: Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 46
Toward NY 12F: Airport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.82 one way
$65.64 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $35.49 | $70.98 |
| premium | $4.92 | $38.65 | $77.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.03 | $88.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.94 | $9.57 |
| Efficient EV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.45 | $7.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.8 | 0 | $27.92 | $12.76 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
North Elba, NY
Morning in North Elba on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
5 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
4h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 82% of the 199.4 miles on freeways like I 81. You'll experience about 82.8 miles of continuous cruising on State Route 3 before transitioning to other road types. This means you'll likely encounter more consistent speeds and fewer intersections for a significant portion of the trip, with a shift to surface roads later on.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on State Route 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 3 and I 81. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near East Willow Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 199.4 miles you will encounter 19 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: at 0.4 miles (East Willow Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Syracuse, NY
Full guide →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
- • 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
Arriving in North Elba, NY
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • John Brown Farm State Historic Site — historical landmark
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 4h 36m. Total distance: 199.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.8 miles on State Route 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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: at 0.4 miles (East Willow Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at North Elba, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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