Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Syracuse, NY to Penn Yan, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
72 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Penn Yan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Syracuse to Penn Yan is 72 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short trip, mostly on major roadways, making it a straightforward option for a quick transfer between locations. You'll find this route provides a good balance of highway speed and surface road navigation, suitable for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 30.5 mi | 35m |
| West Lake Road | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| US 20 | 8 mi | 10m |
| I 690 | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| State Route 414 | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 54 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Clinton Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 30.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Penn Yan, NY.
1
Start on US 11
507 ft
·
18 sec
·
South State Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South West Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South West Street
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 690 West: Baldwinsville
5
Merge onto I 690
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 690
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
344 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 1
Toward I 90
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
this road
Exit 1
Toward I 90
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 90
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
30 mi
·
35 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft
·
7 sec
14
Continue on NY 414
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 414
15
Turn right onto US 20; NY 5
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
US 20; NY 5
16
Turn right onto NY 14 Truck
464 ft
·
13 sec
·
Lake Street
17
Turn left onto NY 14
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Exchange Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto NY 14
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Seneca Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
At end of road, turn left onto NY 14
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on NY 14
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lochland Road
21
Continue on NY 14
11 mi
·
12 min
·
West Lake Road
22
Turn slight right onto Spur Road
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Spur Road
23
Turn straight
379 ft
·
8 sec
24
Turn straight onto NY 54
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 54
25
Continue on NY 54
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Clinton Street
26
Turn left onto NY 54
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
27
Turn right onto NY 54
54 ft
·
0 sec
·
Elm Street
28
Arrive at destination
NY 54
Trip Plan
Given this drive is only about 1 hour 33 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Syracuse in the morning allows you to arrive in Penn Yan with plenty of the day still ahead. Since the total distance is only 72 miles, you won't need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of the New York State Thruway, where services might be less frequent before you reach US 20. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, so plan accordingly.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.5 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Penn Yan, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Syracuse, NY
This is one driving day of about 72 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Syracuse, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 30.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Warners Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Port Byron Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 54.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 90
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward I 90
8
9.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
8
40.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
7
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
NY 14 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto NY 14 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.78 one way
$25.56 round trip
$4.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.85 | $13.74 | $27.47 |
| premium | $5.24 | $14.85 | $29.70 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $15.17 | $30.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.52
New York State Thruway
(30.5 mi)
$1.52
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Syracuse, NY
Evening in Syracuse on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 5 to 9 mph
72% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Penn Yan, NY
Evening in Penn Yan on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Clyde, NY
36 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
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 33m 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.
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 44.7
View on nps.gov
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 29.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 33% of this route is on highways, with the longest continuous highway stretch spanning 30.5 miles on the New York State Thruway. After the highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads, including West Lake Road and US 20. Expect a mix of cruising speeds; the highway segments offer efficient travel, while the latter part of the drive will likely involve more local traffic and intersections.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.5 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.1 miles in near East Washington Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Syracuse, NY to Penn Yan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Clyde along the way.
Clyde
40.5 mi in
|
~49m
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 Penn Yan, NY
Full guide →Penn Yan is in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Top landmarks
- • Lake View Cemetery — cemetery in Penn Yan, New York
- • Sampson Theatre — former theater and movie theater in Penn Yan, 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 1h 33m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.5 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.52 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.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 Penn Yan, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Women's Rights National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Penn Yan, NY before heading back.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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