Traveling from Wellsville to Yonkers covers 306.3 miles across New York state, a journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 13 minutes behind the wheel. Given the duration, this trip is manageable as a single-day drive if you are comfortable with a consistent pace. You should budget approximately $48 for fuel to complete the trek. Since the route stays entirely within the Northeast region, you will experience a familiar transition from the quieter surroundings of Wellsville toward the denser environment of Yonkers. It is an ideal distance for a traveler who prefers to get from point A to point B in one go without the need for an overnight stop.
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
153.2 miles from Wellsville, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
129.9 mi
2h 40m
Southern Tier Expressway
80.1 mi
1h 34m
State Highway 417
35 mi
52m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
New York State Thruway
10.2 mi
13m
Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
10m
US 6
7.1 mi
9m
Andover Road
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellsville, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on North Main Street
87 ft·4 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto West Madison Street
420 ft·24 sec·West Madison Street
3
Turn left onto NY 19; NY 417
0.6 mi·58 sec·Wellsville Bypass
4
Continue on NY 417
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Highway 417
5
Continue on NY 417
0.3 mi·24 sec·East Dyke Street
6
Continue on NY 417
4.4 mi·6 min·Andover Road
7
Continue on NY 417
2.8 mi·4 min·State Highway 417
8
Continue on NY 417
1.1 mi·1 min·East Chestnut Street
9
Continue on NY 417
15 mi·22 min·State Highway 417
10
At end of road, turn left onto NY 36; NY 417
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 36
11
Turn right onto NY 417
16 mi·24 min·State Highway 417
12
Continue on NY 417
0.7 mi·1 min·Tuscarora Street
13
Continue on NY 417
0.2 mi·13 sec·Main Street
14
Continue on NY 417
1.1 mi·1 min·Front Street
15
Continue on NY 417
365 ft·6 sec·State Highway 417
16
Continue on NY 417
3.5 mi·5 min·Addison Road
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 15 North
18
Merge onto I 99; US 15
3.6 mi·4 min·I 99; US 15
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 13A-BToward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 13AToward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
21
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
80 mi·1 hr 34 min·Southern Tier Expressway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
130 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi·9 min·US 6
Exit 130AToward US 6: Bear Mountain
24
Enter roundabout
346 ft·4 sec
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
25
Continue
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
26
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 9EToward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway SouthUse the right lane.
28
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi·12 min·New York State Thruway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 7AToward Saw Mill River Parkway SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi·10 min·Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward West Yonkers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
33
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Yonkers Avenue
34
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·57 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
35
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft·5 sec·South Broadway
Use the left lane.
36
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
Because this route relies heavily on local roads, planning for at least one dedicated stop is essential to keep your energy levels steady over the 5-hour and 13-minute duration. Aim to depart early in the day to avoid the fatigue that can set in when navigating non-highway roads for extended periods. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $48 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local road idling. Since you are not restricted by highway exits, you have the flexibility to pull over in smaller towns whenever you need a break. My best tip for this specific drive is to map out your one planned stop in advance, as the turn-heavy nature of the roads can make spontaneous navigation more challenging.
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 153.2 miles from Wellsville, NY, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 67 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.2 miles or 3h 18m 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 18m
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 Wellsville, 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 Wellsville, NY
This is one driving day of about 306.3 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Wellsville, 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 I 86 for about 129.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 52 and 296.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
52 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13A-B
Toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamt...
7
52.9 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13A
Toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamt...
7
133.4 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New York
8
286.1 mi into trip|~6h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, W...
7
296.8 mi into trip|~6h 16m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.76 one way
$101.51 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.57
$55.05
$110.10
premium
$4.99
$60.17
$120.35
diesel
$5.13
$61.91
$123.82
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
New York State Thruway
(10.2 mi)$0.51
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
$51
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-20.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.9
1
$32.16
$14.70
Efficient EV
76.6
0
$26.80
$12.25
EV Truck/SUV
122.5
1
$42.88
$19.60
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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 22, 2026
Origin
Wellsville, NY
Night
in Wellsville on Wednesday
Local time
11:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 21 at 9:50PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 21 at 9:48PM EDT until July 22 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Night
in Yonkers on Wednesday
Local time
11:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 9 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 21 at 9:50PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 21 at 9:48PM EDT until July 22 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Albany NY
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 30m 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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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 306.3
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 306.3
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 306.3
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 306.3
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 306.3
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 306.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through local roads like West Madison Street, the Wellsville Bypass, and Highway 417, which demand your full attention compared to high-speed turnpikes. With the longest stretch being 0 miles on West Madison Street, the route is characterized by constant transitions rather than long, uninterrupted segments. The personality of this drive is technical and engaging, requiring you to stay alert through frequent turns and shifts in road type. You will find that the lack of highway miles makes for a more hands-on experience as you traverse the state.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.9 mi on I 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 52 miles in.
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 21 significant decision points across 306.3 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 52 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.4 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,057 ft86 ft
Total Climb
1,334 ft
Total Descent
2,762 ft
Highest Point
2,057 ft
~21.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,971 ft
Notable High Points
2,057 ft at ~21.9 miles+542 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wellsville, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Binghamton, New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
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 30m. Total distance: 306.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.9 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.51 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.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 52 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.4 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 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.
