Origin
Vails Gate, NY
Morning in Vails Gate on Tuesday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vails Gate, NY to Yonkers, 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 8m
Distance
50.3 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
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.
Vails Gate, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Vails Gate to Yonkers is 50.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via US 9W and I-87, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, taking you from the Northeast region to the same region. It's a predominantly highway-focused trip that should be manageable for a single day. You'll be covering over 50 miles, so plan accordingly for traffic, especially as you approach Yonkers. Consider this a straightforward connection between two points in the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 9W | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| United States Route 9W | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| New York State Thruway | 8 mi | 10m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 303 North | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| State Route 32 | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North Route 303 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Yonkers Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 9W
— 13.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vails Gate, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on NY 94
71 ft
·
6 sec
·
NY 94
2
Turn right onto NY 32
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 32
3
Turn left onto CR 107
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Quaker Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto US 9W
11 mi
·
15 min
·
United States Route 9W
6
Enter roundabout onto US 9W; US 202
235 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 9W; US 202
7
Continue on US 9W; US 202
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 9W; US 202
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on NY 303
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Route 303
9
Continue on NY 303
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 303 North
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto NY 303
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
NY 303
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
12
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
this road
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York State Thruway
13
Merge onto I 87; I 287
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
New York State Thruway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Yonkers Avenue
19
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Nepperhan Avenue
20
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Vails Gate, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 39.8 and 50.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
39.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 87 / New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 / New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
40.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
5
41.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Saw Mill River Parkway
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
49 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward West Yonkers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
7
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.28 one way
$16.56 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $8.95 | $17.91 |
| premium | $4.92 | $9.75 | $19.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.11 | $22.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.40
New York State Thruway
(8 mi)
$0.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.04 | $3.22 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Yonkers, NY
Morning in Yonkers on Tuesday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
New City, NY
25 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
18 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?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey utilizing major roadways like US 9W and the New York State Thruway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.9 miles on US 9W, offering a period of consistent travel. Expect a driving experience that leans towards efficient movement rather than scenic detours. The character of the road is geared towards covering ground, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops along the main thoroughfares.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on US 9W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 9W and United States Route 9W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.8 miles in near I 87 / New York State Thruway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 39.8 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles (Saw Mill River Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Vails Gate, NY to Yonkers, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Saw Mill River Parkway South along the way.
Saw Mill River Parkway South
40.8 mi in
|
~54m
About the Cities
Starting in Vails Gate, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Yonkers, NY
Full guide →Founded 1646
Yonkers is a city of 211,569 people (2020) in Westchester County. The third most populous city in New York state, Yonkers is a suburb of New York City and borders the Borough of the Bronx. Yonkers is known as the "City of Seven Hills," which are Park, Nodine, Ridge, Cross, Locust, Glen, and Church hills.
Top landmarks
- • Untermyer Park — public garden
- • Hudson River Museum — museum in Yonkers, N.Y.
- • Glenview Mansion — historic house 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: 50.3 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.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 miles on US 9W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.40 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 Yonkers, 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 39.8 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles (Saw Mill River Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). 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 Yonkers, 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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