Waterville to Yonkers is 296.7 miles and takes about 6h 33m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York, traveling from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that mixes highway speeds with more frequent turns as you approach your destination. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is best suited for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently, keeping potential stops to a minimum. Consider this a straightforward option for a day trip or the start of a larger journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
148.4 miles from Waterville, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
221.9 mi
4h 18m
County Route 17
14.4 mi
34m
NY 49
14.4 mi
17m
Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
10m
Rome-Taberg Road
7.3 mi
10m
Taberg-Florence Road
6.9 mi
9m
Thompson Corners-Florence Road
4.5 mi
6m
Redfield Road
3.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 221.9 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterville, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on Waterville Road
1.3 mi·5 min·Waterville Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto County Road 92
3.1 mi·7 min·County Road 92
3
Continue on CR 17
14 mi·34 min·County Route 17
4
Continue on County Route 27
3.3 mi·7 min·County Route 27
5
Continue on CR 70
3.8 mi·9 min·Redfield Road
6
Continue on CR 70
4.5 mi·6 min·Thompson Corners-Florence Road
7
Continue on CR 70A
6.5 mi·9 min·Taberg-Florence Road
8
Continue on CR 70A
0.3 mi·28 sec·Taberg-Florence Road
9
Turn left onto NY 69
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 69
10
Continue on NY 69
7.3 mi·10 min·Rome-Taberg Road
11
Continue on NY 46; NY 49; NY 69
3.4 mi·7 min·Erie Boulevard West
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 49; NY 69
0.8 mi·1 min·NY 49; NY 69
13
Continue on NY 49; NY 365
14 mi·16 min·NY 49; NY 365
14
Continue on I 790; NY 5
0.2 mi·13 sec·I 790; NY 5
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward Genesee Street South
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 90
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 90 East
18
Merge onto I 90
84 mi·1 hr 36 min·New York State Thruway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 87 South: New York, BostonUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
19 mi·24 min·New York State Thruway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 7AToward Saw Mill River Parkway SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi·10 min·Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward West Yonkers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Yonkers Avenue
26
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·57 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
27
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft·5 sec·South Broadway
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 33m estimated duration, starting your drive from Waterville in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight. While the recommended drive is for one day, you'll encounter 1 stop along the way, so plan for a brief break. The fuel cost is estimated at $49, so ensure your tank is full before departing Waterville. Pay close attention to signage as you transition from the New York State Thruway onto County Route 17 and NY 49, as these local roads will require more active navigation.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.4 miles from Waterville, NY, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 65 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.4 miles or 3h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yonkers, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterville, NY
This is one driving day of about 296.7 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Waterville, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 221.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 149 and 296.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
149 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
6
286.2 mi into trip|~6h 18m 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
287.2 mi into trip|~6h 19m 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
7
295.4 mi into trip|~6h 30m 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
296.7 mi into trip|~6h 33m 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
$48.84 one way
$97.68 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$52.81
$105.62
premium
$4.92
$57.51
$115.01
diesel
$5.61
$65.51
$131.02
Estimated Tolls: $11.09
New York State Thruway
(221.9 mi)$11.09
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
$49
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89
1
$31.15
$14.24
Efficient EV
74.2
0
$25.96
$11.87
EV Truck/SUV
118.7
1
$41.54
$18.99
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Waterville, NY
Morning
in Waterville on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Morning
in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Stockport, NY
148 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.
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
14 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
6h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Fort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
For centuries, the Oneida Carrying Place, a six-mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, served as a vital link for those traveling by water from the ocean to the Great Lakes. When Eur...
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 296.7
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 296.7
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 296.7
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 296.7
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 296.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a "Turn-heavy local drive" profile, with only 14% of the journey on highways. You'll spend the majority of your time navigating local roads, including County Route 17 and NY 49, which means more frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 221.9 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a period of faster travel before you transition back to more winding local roads. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires your attention throughout.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 221.9 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 149 miles in near New York State Thruway.
Driving Effort9/10
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 14 significant decision points across 296.7 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 149 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.2 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Waterville, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Genesee Street South and Boston.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 296.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 221.9 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.09 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.
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 Yonkers, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 149 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.2 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Stanwix National Monument, Hamilton Grange National Memorial 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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Yonkers, NY before the return drive.
