Trip from Tonawanda, NY to Lake Grove, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 4m

Distance

430.5 mi

693 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$72

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 56m ★

6 AM

9h 4m

8 AM

9h 20m

10 AM

9h 10m

12 PM

9h 8m

3 PM

9h 11m

5 PM

9h 20m

8 PM

8h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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city in the state of New York, United States

Tonawanda, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Lake Grove, NY

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

Tonawanda, NY to Lake Grove, NY is 430.5 miles and takes about 9h 4m via New York State Thruway, I 81, and Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $71 and ideally split over two days. This drive stays within New York, transitioning from the western part of the state towards Long Island. Given the duration, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended to make the trip more manageable. You'll encounter a mix of highway travel and surface roads, so be prepared for varying driving conditions. This route is best suited for those looking for a direct, albeit substantial, trip across the state.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

215.3 miles from Tonawanda, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 34m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
New York State Thruway	99.4 mi	1h 54m
I 81	98.8 mi	1h 57m
Keystone Shortway	80 mi	1h 37m
Long Island Expressway	30.3 mi	41m
I 380	23.6 mi	25m
East Lake Road	9.9 mi	14m
State Highway 41	9.8 mi	13m
Clark Street Road	9.6 mi	11m

Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 99.4 mi, about 1h 54m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,190 veh/hr typical · worst 4,979

Quietest

1 AM

~446 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 103 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 Tonawanda, NY and Lake Grove, NY.

Start on NY 265

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Seymour Street

Turn left onto Broad Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Broad Street

Continue on Young Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · Young Street

Turn left

0.1 mi · 28 sec

Turn straight onto NY 425

0.9 mi · 1 min · Twin Cities Memorial Highway

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 290 East

Merge onto I 290

6.3 mi · 8 min · Youngmann Expressway

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 57 sec

Exit 1-49 Toward I 90 East: Albany Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 90

99 mi · 1 hr 54 min · New York State Thruway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

327 ft · 7 sec

Continue on NY 414

0.3 mi · 35 sec · State Route 414

Turn left onto NY 318

4.1 mi · 7 min · NY 318

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road

Continue on US 20; NY 5

9.6 mi · 11 min · Clark Street Road

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto State Street

226 ft · 12 sec · State Street

Turn left onto Dill Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Dill Street

Continue on Loop Road

458 ft · 16 sec · Loop Road

Turn left onto Genesee Street

5.5 mi · 9 min · Genesee Street

Continue on US 20

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Genesee Street Road

Turn right onto NY 41

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Lake Street

Continue on NY 41

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

9.8 mi · 13 min · State Highway 41

Turn right onto NY 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · North West Street

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min

Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward I 81 South: Binghamton

Merge onto I 81

45 mi · 54 min · I 81

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81

Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6

Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380

Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380

Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min

Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg

Merge onto I 80

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec

Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck Use the slight right lane.

Turn right

0.2 mi · 35 sec

Exit 70A Toward Leonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto CR 56

454 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue

Continue on CR 56

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on CR 56

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street

Take the ramp

472 ft · 12 sec

Toward George Washington Bridge

Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Bergen Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

312 ft · 4 sec

Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.3 mi · 20 sec · I 95 EXPR

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 295

3.2 mi · 3 min · Clearview Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 4E-W Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 4E Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island

Merge onto I 495

30 mi · 41 min · Long Island Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Exit 56 Toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Express Drive South

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Express Drive South

Continue on Express Drive South

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Express Drive South

Turn left onto NY 111

1.6 mi · 2 min · Wheeler Road

Continue on NY 111

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Townline Road

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto NY 111

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Hauppauge Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn slight right onto NY 347

1.3 mi · 2 min · Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway

Continue on NY 347

2.5 mi · 3 min · Nesconset Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward Route 25, Middle Country Road EAST, Centereach, Riverhead

Turn right onto NY 25

1.3 mi · 2 min · Middle Country Road

Turn right onto Hawkins Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Hawkins Avenue

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

Hawkins Avenue

Trip Plan

With a 9h 4m estimated drive time, this trip is best split over two days to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight and cover a good portion of the distance. Since there are 2 recommended stops, plan your overnight accommodation roughly halfway through your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition onto surface roads, as service areas might be less frequent than on the interstates. The $71 fuel cost estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting your expenses for the 430.5 miles.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 215.3 miles from Tonawanda, NY, or about 4h 34m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.4 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 95 miles or 1h 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 215.3 miles or 4h 34m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 215.3 miles or 4h 34m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Grove, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Tonawanda, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Tonawanda, NY

Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Lake Grove, NY

Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Tonawanda, NY.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 99.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Barton, NY

215 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Barton, NY

Overnight Options

Night 1

Barton, NY

215 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Barton, NY after about 215 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Manchester, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Barton, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 215.3 miles from Tonawanda, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 215 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

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.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Sage Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 1h 18m to go 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately

Hours: 4–9 pm

+12017970500

Visit website

Best coffee break · home stretch

Bite Food & Coffee Co

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Hackensack, New Jersey

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 1h 18m to go 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+12015602269

Visit website

Marimba Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hackensack, New Jersey

2.2 mi

Cafe Tropical Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Hackensack, New Jersey

2.1 mi

Sage Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Hours: 4–9 pm

+12017970500

Visit website

Luigi's Restaurant And Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour Moderately

Queens, New York

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+17183477136

Visit website

Bite Food & Coffee Co

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+12015602269

Visit website

Marimba Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+12012563010

Visit website

Cafe Tropical Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+12018800669

C Squared Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12014259120

Juany's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+15512248030

Visit website

Bite Food & Coffee Co

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+15512248072

Visit website

Cafe HESED

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Little Ferry, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+12018706071

Visit website

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.1 mi from route

Clifton Springs, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18885577099

Visit website

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Corfu, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18885577099

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Auburn, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Dover, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargeSmart EV Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Auburn, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887174544

Visit website

Flying J EV Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Pembroke, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15855994430

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Port Washington, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Randolph, New Jersey

1.6 mi from route

iFLY Indoor Skydiving- Paramus

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Paramus, New Jersey

Hours: 10:30 am–8:30 pm

+12017334359

Visit website

Lake Ronkonkoma County Park Home of Syag Sports

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lake Ronkonkoma, New York

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+16318544949

Visit website

Posh Princess Palace

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lodi, New Jersey

Hours: 1–7 pm

+18628997674

Visit website

Catch Air Paramus

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Paramus, New Jersey

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+12016202125

Visit website

Shooting Zone

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 12–9 pm

+12014401329

Visit website

Cayuga Museum of History & Art

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Auburn, New York

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13152538051

Visit website

Chuck E. Cheese

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately

Paramus, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12014871088

Visit website

Play Space ABC Cayuga

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Auburn, New York

Hours: 9 am–1 pm

+13152525541

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 43

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.8 and 374 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8.8 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Albany

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 1-49 Toward I 90 East: Albany

108.9 mi into trip | ~2h 10m 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

259.1 mi into trip | ~5h 26m in | US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...

373.7 mi into trip | ~7h 42m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...

374 mi into trip | ~7h 43m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$72.20 one way

$144.40 round trip

$4.26/gal 25.4 MPG avg 151 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.63	$78.41	$156.81
premium	$5.05	$85.64	$171.28
diesel	$5.60	$94.90	$189.79

Estimated Tolls: $27.52

George Washington Bridge $16.00

Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55

New York State Thruway (99.4 mi) $4.97

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

$72

Tolls

$28

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$230–$340

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 150.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	129.2	1	$45.20	$20.66
Efficient EV	107.6	1	$37.67	$17.22
EV Truck/SUV	172.2	2	$60.27	$27.55

Gas CO2

151 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Aug 15, 2026

Origin

Tonawanda, NY

Late night in Tonawanda on Wednesday

Local time

4:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Mostly Sunny

NE 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Destination

Lake Grove, NY

Late night in Lake Grove on Wednesday

Local time

4:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Sunny

N 6 mph 0% chance Live forecast

75°F

Barton, NY

215 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

9h 4m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive features a 45% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway is 99.4 miles, likely on the New York State Thruway, before transitioning to other routes. Expect to navigate areas with dense exits and merges as you move between different highway systems and eventually onto surface roads for the latter part of the trip. The profile indicates mostly surface roads, so prepare for more varied speed limits and potentially more local traffic.

Only 45% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

69 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 99.4 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 8.8 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 43 significant decision points across 430.5 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 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 259.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,969 ft 41 ft

Total Climb

2,578 ft

Total Descent

3,039 ft

Highest Point

1,969 ft

~276.8 mi in

Elevation Range

1,928 ft

Notable High Points

1,969 ft at ~276.8 miles +881 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Tonawanda, NY and Lake Grove, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.

Clyde

108.9 mi in | ~2h 10m

Mt Pocono

259.1 mi in | ~5h 26m | via US 6

Milford

259.9 mi in | ~5h 28m | via I 84; I 380

New York City

373.7 mi in | ~7h 42m

Leonia

374 mi in | ~7h 43m

Teaneck

374 mi in | ~7h 43m

George Washington Bridge Upper Level

376.2 mi in | ~7h 47m

Eastern Long Island

391.2 mi in | ~8h 7m

About the Cities

Starting in Tonawanda, NY

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Tonawanda is the name of both a city in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York, and the unincorporated suburban township that surrounds it. The incorporated village of Kenmore also makes up part of the Town of Tonawanda. All three of these places are covered in this article.

Arriving in Lake Grove, NY

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Top landmarks

• First Congregational Church of New Village — church building in New York, United States of America

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 99.4 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 215 miles on day one.

Expect about $27.52 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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 41 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 Lake Grove, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lake Grove, NY before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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