Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
86.7 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Windsor, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
This 86.7-mile drive from Syracuse, NY to Windsor, NY is a straightforward journey, estimated to take about 1 hour and 44 minutes. With 98% of the route on highways, it's an efficient trip perfect for a single day. The estimated fuel cost is around $14, making it an economical option. This route is a highway-focused drive that keeps you moving efficiently through the Northeast region of New York. It's designed for getting from point A to point B without significant detours, making it a practical choice for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.3 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 74.5 mi | 1h 28m |
| I 86 | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| I-81 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Almond Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chapel Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Windsor, NY.
Start on US 11
Turn left onto NY 92
Turn right onto Almond Street
Turn slight right
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I-81
Continue on I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
Take the exit
Turn left onto NY 79
Turn left onto Church Street
Continue on Church Street
Turn left onto CR 28
Turn slight right
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive or finding overnight accommodations. The longest stretch on I-81 is 74.5 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or slightly before you hit that long section. Leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon should allow you to avoid the worst of any potential local traffic, though the highway focus minimizes this concern. Consider checking traffic conditions on I-81 before you depart for the smoothest journey.
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.
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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 52m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 86.7 miles and 1h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 43.3 miles from Syracuse, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NY 92 / East Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward NY 79: Windsor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto CR 28 / Chapel Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$14.27 one way
$28.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $15.43 | $30.86 |
| premium | $4.92 | $16.80 | $33.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.14 | $38.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26 | 0 | $9.10 | $4.16 |
| Efficient EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.14 | $5.55 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Syracuse on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Windsor on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
60°F
Triangle, NY
43 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 86.7-mile route, with 98% of your travel occurring on interstates like I-81 and I-86. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 74.5 miles on I-81, allowing for a consistent pace. This drive-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on fast-moving roads, minimizing time spent navigating local traffic. The character remains largely highway-centric throughout, providing a predictable driving environment.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 86. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 92 / East Genesee Street.
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 86.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Syracuse, NY to Windsor, NY, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
New York
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 86.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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