Syracuse to Sloatsburg is 219 miles and takes about 4h 31m via I 86, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York, connecting the Northeast region to itself. Expect a straightforward drive that's almost entirely highway, making it a simple transit for a single day. Plan for a minimal number of stops given the relatively short duration and highway profile.
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
109.6 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
130.4 mi
2h 40m
I 81
74.5 mi
1h 28m
State Highway 17
5.6 mi
7m
Route 17
3.8 mi
6m
Orange Turnpike
1.7 mi
3m
NY 17
1.4 mi
2m
I-81
0.8 mi
<1m
Almond Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 130.4 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,058 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,330
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 34 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 Sloatsburg, 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
130 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.2 mi·28 sec·NY 17
Exit 131Toward NY 17, NY 32: Newburgh, SuffernUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
1.2 mi·2 min·NY 17
Toward NY 17: SuffernUse the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto NY 17
5.6 mi·7 min·State Highway 17
13
Continue on NY 17
3.8 mi·6 min·Route 17
14
Continue on NY 17
1.7 mi·3 min·Orange Turnpike
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn left onto Trooper Robert V. Conklin Drive
113 ft·8 sec·Trooper Robert V. Conklin Drive
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Trooper Robert V. Conklin Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour estimated drive time, leaving Syracuse in the morning is ideal to arrive in Sloatsburg with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a 100% highway profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 130.4-mile stretch on I 86, as services might be less frequent. This route's efficiency means you have flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
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 109.6 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.4 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.6 miles or 2h 11m 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 Sloatsburg, 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 219.1 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 130.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 206.7 — 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.
7
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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New York
9
206.5 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward NY 17, NY 32: Newburgh, Suffern
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 131
Toward NY 17, NY 32: Newburgh, Suffern
7
206.7 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward NY 17: Suffern
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NY 17: Suffern
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.89 one way
$77.77 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.85
$41.80
$83.60
premium
$5.24
$45.19
$90.38
diesel
$5.35
$46.15
$92.30
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Orange Turnpike
(1.7 mi)$0.12
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
$39
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$23.01
$10.52
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.67
$14.02
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Syracuse, NY
Evening
in Syracuse on Wednesday
Local time
6:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
NW 3 to 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sloatsburg, NY
Evening
in Sloatsburg on Wednesday
Local time
6:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Isolated Rain Showers
N 9 mph16% chanceLive forecast
54°F
Milford, NY
110 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 31m 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 7.6
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 219.1
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 219.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 100% highway, meaning you'll be on major roads for the entire 219 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 130.4 miles on I 86. Expect a consistent cruising experience without transitioning to surface streets. The density of exits will be noticeable as you navigate through various parts of the state.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.4 mi on I 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. 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.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 219.1 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: 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. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,537 ft341 ft
Total Climb
1,716 ft
Total Descent
1,776 ft
Highest Point
1,537 ft
~172.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,196 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Syracuse, NY and Sloatsburg, NY, road signs point toward New York and Suffern.
New York
76.1 mi in|~1h 30m|via I 86; NY 17
Suffern
206.5 mi in|~4h 11m|via NY 17
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 219.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (100%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.4 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Orange Turnpike. 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 11 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 Sloatsburg, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, General Grant National Memorial and Hamilton Grange National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sloatsburg, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
