Valley Stream, NY to Tonawanda, NY is 399.5 miles and takes about 8h 23m via New York State Thruway, I 81, and Christopher Columbus Highway, with a fuel budget near $65 and likely an overnight stop. This trip spans across New York State, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. With a recommended two days for travel, you'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving. It's a straightforward route that covers a good portion of the state, offering practical considerations for planning your travel time.
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
199.8 miles from Valley Stream, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
99.6 mi
1h 55m
I 81
97.3 mi
1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Chase Street
9.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 55m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Valley Stream, NY and Tonawanda, NY.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Merrick Road
1.1 mi·1 min·West Merrick Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Merrick Boulevard
0.3 mi·47 sec·Merrick Boulevard
4
Turn sharp right onto Brookville Boulevard
462 ft·23 sec·Brookville Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
322 ft·7 sec
6
Merge onto BP
0.6 mi·40 sec·Belt Parkway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CI
1.8 mi·2 min·Cross Island Parkway
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
317 ft·9 sec
Exit 26BToward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont ParkUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft·12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead AvenueUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
11
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft·8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
13
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft·4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
14
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Jamaica Avenue
16
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·212th Street
17
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
19
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
22
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
23
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
33
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
34
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
35
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
38
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
39
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
40
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
41
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
42
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
43
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
44
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
45
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
46
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
47
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
48
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
49
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
50
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
51
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
52
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
53
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
54
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
55
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
56
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
57
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
58
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
59
Merge onto I 90
100 mi·1 hr 55 min·New York State Thruway
60
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Exit 50Toward I 290: Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Continue on I 290
6.1 mi·8 min·Youngmann Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
62
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 2Toward NY 425: Colvin BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
63
Turn right onto NY 425
1.2 mi·2 min·Twin Cities Memorial Highway
64
Turn left onto Fillmore Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Fillmore Avenue
65
Turn left onto Fremont Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Fremont Street
66
Turn right onto Young Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Young Street
67
Continue on Broad Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Broad Street
68
Turn right onto NY 265
0.1 mi·21 sec·Seymour Street
69
Arrive at destination
NY 265
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour-plus duration and the recommended two days, it's best to break this trip into two manageable driving days. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for stops. With two planned stops, you can distribute them evenly across your travel days, perhaps after about 4 hours of driving each day. Watch for the transition from the faster-paced highways to the slower surface roads, as this will affect your travel time. Budgeting around $65 for fuel is a reasonable estimate for this 399.5-mile trip.
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 199.8 miles from Valley Stream, NY, or about 4h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 88 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 199.8 miles or 4h 6m 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 199.8 miles or 4h 6m
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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tonawanda, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Valley Stream, 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 Valley Stream, NY
Aim for roughly 200 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tonawanda, NY
Aim for roughly 200 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Valley Stream, 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 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 48
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 23.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|CI / Cross Island Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto CI / Cross Island Parkway toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge
8
4.3 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
8
4.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
8
23.3 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
23.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.63 one way
$129.26 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$70.13
$140.27
premium
$4.85
$76.25
$152.50
diesel
$4.80
$75.43
$150.87
Estimated Tolls: $27.81
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(99.6 mi)$4.98
New Jersey Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.28
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
$65
Tolls
$28
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$222–$332
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.9
1
$41.95
$19.18
Efficient EV
99.9
1
$34.96
$15.98
EV Truck/SUV
159.8
1
$55.93
$25.57
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Valley Stream, NY
Late night
in Valley Stream on Sunday
Local time
4:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Smoke
NW 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tonawanda, NY
Late night
in Tonawanda on Sunday
Local time
4:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Smoke
N 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
200 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
10 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
8h 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 275.5
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 289.3
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 27.6
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 27.6
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 27.6
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 27.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive involves a significant amount of highway time, with 40% of the route on major roads like the New York State Thruway and I 81. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 99.6 miles on the New York State Thruway, indicating substantial periods of consistent highway travel. The profile notes "Mostly surface roads," suggesting that after the highway segments, expect more frequent intersections and varied speed limits typical of local and state routes. Keep an eye out for the transition points where the highway ends and surface roads begin.
Only 40% 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: 99.6 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 2.4 miles in near CI / Cross Island Parkway.
Driving Effort10/10
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 48 significant decision points across 399.5 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 2.4 miles (CI / Cross Island Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,796 ft13 ft
Total Climb
3,472 ft
Total Descent
2,910 ft
Highest Point
1,796 ft
~114.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,784 ft
Notable High Points
1,796 ft at ~114.1 miles+1,035 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Valley Stream, NY and Tonawanda, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack and Albany.
Hempstead is the most populous town in America, with a whopping 700,000 residents, located on the South Shore of Nassau County, New York. The town is highly urbanized and fragmented, containing 22 semi-autonomous villages within its boundaries, and forty other neighborhoods.
Garden City, encompassing the "Nassau Hub" region, has its own article. The other prominent communities in Hempstead include Floral Park, Hempstead Village, Valley Stream, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Merrick, and the Five Towns area.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 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 200 miles on day one.
Expect about $27.81 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.
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 Tonawanda, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (CI / Cross Island Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and General Grant National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tonawanda, NY before the return drive.
