Origin
Syracuse, NY
Morning in Syracuse on Tuesday
Local time
11:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Syracuse, NY to Waterford, 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
3h 7m
Distance
145.4 mi
234 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 56m
★
6 AM
3h 7m
8 AM
3h 30m
10 AM
3h 15m
12 PM
3h 13m
3 PM
3h 16m
5 PM
3h 29m
8 PM
3h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Waterford, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Syracuse to Waterford is 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 7m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a route that is mostly surface roads after an initial highway stretch, making it a straightforward, single-day trip. It’s a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B without extensive detours or complex navigation.
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
72.7 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 116 mi | 2h 13m |
| Grooms Road | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| Middletown Road | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| I 690 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Thompson Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| I 890 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Erie Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Aqueduct Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 116 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Waterford, 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
116 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
New York State Thruway
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 26
Toward I 890, NY 5, NY 5S: Schenectady, Scotia
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
16
Continue on I 890
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 890
17
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward NY 337
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
20
Continue on Erie Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Erie Boulevard
21
Enter roundabout onto Erie Boulevard
89 ft
·
1 sec
·
Erie Boulevard
22
Continue on Erie Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Erie Boulevard
23
Turn right onto Maxon Road Extension
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Maxon Road Extension
24
Continue on Van Vranken Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Van Vranken Avenue
25
Continue on CR 10
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Aqueduct Road
26
Enter roundabout onto NY 146
272 ft
·
4 sec
·
Balltown Road
27
Continue on NY 146
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Balltown Road
28
Turn right onto CR 91
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverview Road
29
Turn left onto CR 91
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
Grooms Road
30
Continue on CR 94
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Guideboard Road
31
Continue on CR 96
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Middletown Road
32
Continue on 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
6th Street
33
Turn right onto Division Street
101 ft
·
4 sec
·
Division Street
34
Arrive at destination
Division Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering 145.4 miles, leaving Syracuse in the morning offers plenty of time to reach Waterford. You'll spend about 3 hours and 7 minutes driving, with a fuel cost estimated around $24. The route includes one stop, so plan for a break along the way if needed. Since the majority of the drive is on surface roads, pay attention to local signage and speed limits once you leave the New York State Thruway. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you can adjust your departure time or stop duration as needed.
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 72.7 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.7 miles or 1h 28m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterford, 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 145.4 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 New York State Thruway for about 116 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.7 miles from Syracuse, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 122.4 — 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
8
122.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 890, NY 5, NY 5S: Schenectady, Scotia
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 26
Toward I 890, NY 5, NY 5S: Schenectady, Scotia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.93 one way
$47.87 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $25.88 | $51.76 |
| premium | $4.92 | $28.18 | $56.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.10 | $64.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.80
New York State Thruway
(116 mi)
$5.80
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
$24
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.27 | $6.98 |
| Efficient EV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.72 | $5.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.2 | 0 | $20.36 | $9.31 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Waterford, NY
Morning in Waterford on Tuesday
Local time
11:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
22 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 7m 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?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only 30% of the drive on highways. The longest stretch on the New York State Thruway covers 116 miles before you transition to surface streets. You'll notice a significant change in pace as you exit the Thruway and navigate through local roads like Grooms Road and Middletown Road. The profile is mostly surface roads, so anticipate more frequent intersections and varying speed limits.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116 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
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 145.4 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: 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 Waterford, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Scotia along the way.
Scotia
122.4 mi in
|
~2h 25m
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 Waterford, NY
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Urger — tugboat built in 1901
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 3h 7m. Total distance: 145.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.80 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.
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.
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 Waterford, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Waterford, 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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