Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
45.5 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterville, NY
Clément Proust
Plessis, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Waterville, NY to Plessis, NY is 45.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via I 81 and NY 37, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York State, traversing the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive that mostly sticks to major roadways, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll find this route to be practical and efficient, ideal if you're looking for a direct way to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this if you need a reliable and time-efficient way to cover this stretch of upstate New York.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| NY 37 | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| County Road 189 | 4.9 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 26 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| County Road 92 | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Waterville Road | 1.3 mi | 5m |
| NY 342 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Waterville, NY and Plessis, NY.
Start on Waterville Road
At end of road, turn right onto County Road 92
Continue on County Road 93
Continue on County Road 189
Continue on South Main Street
Continue on US 11
Turn left onto NY 178
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn straight onto NY 342
Turn left onto NY 37
Turn left onto NY 26
Turn left onto CR 3
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Waterville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 26.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto County Road 92
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto NY 178 / West Church Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 81 North
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 342: Black River, Carthage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.96 one way
$15.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.82 | $8.63 | $17.26 |
| premium | $5.23 | $9.37 | $18.74 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $11.07 | $22.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Evening in Waterville on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Plessis on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
60°F
Watertown, NY
23 mi in
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.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 79% of the total distance on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion cruising on I 81, including a continuous stretch of 16.8 miles. The route transitions to surface roads, specifically NY 37 and County Road 189, for the remaining mileage. Expect a relatively open feel as you move from the interstate onto these county roads, with fewer exits and more rural cruising.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and NY 37. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near County Road 92.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (County Road 92): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles (NY 178 / West Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
78 ft
Total Descent
835 ft
Highest Point
1,163 ft
Elevation Range
758 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Waterville, NY to Plessis, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Carthage along the way.
Carthage
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 45.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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