Origin
Utica, NY
Late night in Utica on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Utica, NY to Syracuse, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
54.7 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 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Utica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Utica to Syracuse is a straightforward 54.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, making it an ideal choice for a quick regional excursion within the Northeast. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel covers the transit, which relies heavily on a combination of local Genesee Street and I-90 West. Because the entire route remains within New York state, you won't experience significant regional transitions, allowing for a consistent travel experience. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the modest distance makes this an uncomplicated drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 43.5 mi | 50m |
| I 690 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| I 481 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Genesee Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Townsend Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Water Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Washington Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 43.5 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Utica, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on Washington Lane
63 ft
·
10 sec
·
Washington Lane
2
Turn left onto Genesee Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Genesee Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 90
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West
5
Merge onto I 90
43 mi
·
50 min
·
New York State Thruway
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 34A
Toward I 481: Syracuse, Oswego
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 481 South: Syracuse, Fairgrounds, Binghamton
8
Merge onto I 481
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 481
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 690 West: Syracuse, Fairgrounds
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on I 690
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 690
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 13
Toward Townsend Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto North Townsend Street
501 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Townsend Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto East Water Street
479 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Water Street
14
Turn left onto US 11
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South State Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Arrive at destination
US 11
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 27.3 miles from Utica, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 45.8 and 54.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
45.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward I 481: Syracuse, Oswego
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 34A
Toward I 481: Syracuse, Oswego
7
49.3 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward I 690 West: Syracuse, Fairgrounds
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 690 West: Syracuse, Fairgrounds
8
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Townsend Street, Downtown
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 13
Toward Townsend Street, Downtown
7
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
North Townsend Street
Turn left onto North Townsend Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
54.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
US 11 / South State Street
Turn left onto US 11 / South State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.00 one way
$18.01 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.74 | $19.47 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.08 | $24.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.17
New York State Thruway
(43.5 mi)
$2.17
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: 19.1 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 | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
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
Syracuse, NY
Late night in Syracuse on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Lenox, NY
27 mi in
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
16 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
1h 8m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize I-90, the route maintains a practical feel that prioritizes local access over long-distance highway stretches. Because the highway share is 0 percent, you should prepare for a driving experience that requires more focus on navigation and turns than a typical high-speed sprint. The path remains consistent in its character, avoiding long, uninterrupted segments in favor of a more involved, hands-on driving experience. You will find that the road surface and pace demand your attention throughout the entire 54.7-mile duration.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 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 45.8 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 54.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Utica, NY and Syracuse, NY, road signs point toward Oswego, Fairgrounds and Binghamton.
Oswego
45.8 mi in
|
~54m
Fairgrounds
46.5 mi in
|
~56m
Binghamton
46.5 mi in
|
~56m
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving 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
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 8m. Total distance: 54.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.17 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 Syracuse, 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 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Stanwix National Monument and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Syracuse, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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