Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 17m
Distance
306.3 mi
493 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Alfred, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Yonkers to Alfred is 306.3 miles and takes about 6h 17m via Long Mountain Parkway and I-86, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York State, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss. With a recommended one-day drive, you can comfortably complete this trip without needing an overnight stay, provided you start at a reasonable hour.
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 Yonkers, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Mountain Parkway | 107.6 mi | 2h 15m |
| I 86 | 100 mi | 1h 56m |
| NY 17 | 33.7 mi | 40m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 22 mi | 25m |
| New York State Thruway | 16.6 mi | 22m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| North Main Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| State Route 21 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Yonkers, NY and Alfred, NY.
Start on US 9; NY 9A
Turn sharp right onto Nepperhan Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto Nepperhan Avenue
Turn right onto NY 9A
Turn left onto NY 9A
Continue on Tuckahoe Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 87
Take the exit
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 2
Continue on CR 2
At end of road, turn right onto NY 21
Continue on NY 21
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 244
Continue on NY 244
Arrive at destination
Given the 6h 17m duration, leaving Yonkers in the morning is your best bet for a same-day arrival in Alfred. With only one recommended stop and a long 107.6-mile stretch on Long Mountain Parkway, plan your breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway driving can consume fuel steadily, and ensure you have enough to cover the estimated $50 cost. The route's highway-centric nature means rest stops are generally predictable and available along the main thoroughfares.
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 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.2 miles or 3h 14m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alfred, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Yonkers, 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 Yonkers, NY
This is one driving day of about 306.3 miles and 6h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
153 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 153.2 miles from Yonkers, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Long Mountain Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.6 miles.
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 1.1 and 299.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NY 9A / Saw Mill River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Almond, Andover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$50.42 one way
$100.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $54.52 | $109.04 |
| premium | $4.92 | $59.37 | $118.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $67.63 | $135.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
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
$50
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Alfred on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of it on high-speed roads. You'll spend most of your time on Long Mountain Parkway and I-86. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 107.6 miles, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. Expect a consistent driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding local roads or frequent town navigation. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, allowing for a predictable journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Mountain Parkway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near NY 9A / Saw Mill River Road.
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 17 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 1.1 miles (NY 9A / Saw Mill River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yonkers, NY and Alfred, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain and New York State Thruway.
Palisades Parkway North
Bear Mountain
New York State Thruway
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
Founded 1808
Alfred, the home of Alfred University is a small town in Allegany County in the Southern Tier of New York.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 306.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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