Origin
Syracuse, NY
Morning in Syracuse on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Syracuse, NY to Utica, 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
1h 9m
Distance
54.4 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Utica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 55-mile drive from Syracuse to Utica, New York, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in under an hour. With no highway driving involved, expect a local feel throughout. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, making it an economical choice for a short excursion. Given its brevity, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It's a practical journey through the Northeast region of New York.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 45.7 mi | 52m |
| I 690 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Thompson Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| North Genesee Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Water Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Genesee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Crouse Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 45.7 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Utica, NY.
1
Start on US 11
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
South State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto East Water Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Water Street
3
Turn left onto South Crouse Avenue
352 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Crouse Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
5
Merge onto I 690
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 690
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward NY 635 North: Bridge Street, East Syracuse, Thompson Road North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NY 635 North: Thompson Road North
9
Turn straight onto NY 635
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Thompson Road
Use the left lane.
10
Enter roundabout
406 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 90
11
Continue
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 90
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 90
46 mi
·
52 min
·
New York State Thruway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 790, NY 8, NY 12: Utica
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
16
Keep slight right at fork
159 ft
·
3 sec
17
Turn slight right onto North Genesee Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Genesee Street
18
Continue on Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Genesee Street
19
Turn right onto Washington Lane
63 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Lane
20
Arrive at destination
Washington Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 52.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
9
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 635 North: Bridge Street, East Syracuse, Thompson Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 635 North: Bridge Street, East Syracu...
6
3.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 635 North: Thompson Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NY 635 North: Thompson Road North
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Albany
7
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 790, NY 8, NY 12: Utica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 790, NY 8, NY 12: Utica
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.95 one way
$17.91 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.68 | $19.37 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.54 | $21.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.28
New York State Thruway
(45.7 mi)
$2.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 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 | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Utica, NY
Morning in Utica on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 55-mile journey. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating city streets and local roads for the full duration. The primary roads you'll follow include James Street, Teall Avenue, and Arterial Road, indicating a route that winds through populated areas rather than open country. There's no single 'longest stretch' to note, as the drive is characterized by frequent intersections and changes in direction, keeping you engaged with the local environment.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.7 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
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 54.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Utica, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Thompson Road North along the way.
Thompson Road North
3.4 mi in
|
~5m
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 Utica, NY
Full guide →Founded 1734
Utica is the heart of the Mohawk Valley and the seat of Oneida County in Central New York State. Utica offers the charm of small-city living balanced with the cultural and ethnic diversity of an international urban center. At the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, Utica is a truly scenic city that offers the pleasures of both a rural and urban setting.
Top landmarks
- • Utica Memorial Auditorium — multi-purpose arena
- • Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute — arts center in Utica, New York
- • Union Station — railway station in Utica, 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 9m. Total distance: 54.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.7 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.28 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.
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 Utica, 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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Utica, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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