Yonkers to Dayton is 390 miles and takes about 8h 5m via Long Mountain Parkway and I 86, with a fuel budget near $69 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This trip stays within New York State, traversing the Northeast region. Given the mostly highway profile, expect a straightforward drive. With a recommended 2 days for this trip, you can comfortably break up the 390 miles and enjoy the drive without feeling rushed.
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
195 miles from Yonkers, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
I 86
100 mi
1h 56m
Southern Tier Expressway
80.8 mi
1h 33m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
New York State Thruway
16.6 mi
22m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
Route 353
12.2 mi
17m
State Highway 353
6.7 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Traffic on I-86
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~653 veh/hr typical
· worst 837
Quietest
2 AM
~42 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.5×
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 Yonkers, NY and Dayton, NY.
1
Start on US 9; NY 9A
181 ft·11 sec·South Broadway
2
Turn sharp right onto Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·48 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
4
Turn right onto NY 9A
0.1 mi·19 sec·Ashburton Avenue
5
Turn left onto NY 9A
1.4 mi·2 min·Saw Mill River Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on Tuckahoe Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Tuckahoe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 87 North
8
Merge onto I 87
17 mi·22 min·New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
12
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
13
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
17
Turn left onto State Highway 16
5.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 16
18
Continue on NY 16
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Union Street
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
21
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
20 mi·23 min·Southern Tier Expressway
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 20Toward NY 417, NY 353: Salamanca
23
Turn right onto NY 417
0.3 mi·26 sec·State Highway 417
24
Continue on NY 417
0.3 mi·57 sec·Broad Street
25
Turn left onto NY 353
1.0 mi·2 min·Center Street
26
Continue on NY 353
5.2 mi·7 min·Route 353
27
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
0.3 mi·31 sec·State Highway 242
28
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
0.9 mi·2 min·Rock City Street
29
Continue on NY 353
1.3 mi·3 min·Erie Street
30
Continue on NY 353
5.1 mi·7 min·Route 353
31
Continue on NY 353
1.5 mi·2 min·South Main Street
32
Continue on NY 353
5.0 mi·7 min·State Highway 353
33
Continue on NY 353
2.0 mi·2 min·Route 353
34
Continue on NY 353
1.7 mi·2 min·State Highway 353
35
Turn left onto US 62
37 ft·0 sec·US 62
36
Arrive at destination
US 62
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Yonkers to maximize daylight. Since this trip is recommended for 2 days, planning an overnight stop around the halfway point, perhaps after 4-5 hours of driving, would be ideal. This allows for a more relaxed pace and breaks up the 390 miles effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading into longer stretches like the 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway, where services might be less frequent.
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 195 miles from Yonkers, NY, or about 4h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 86 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195 miles or 4h 4m 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 195 miles or 4h 4m
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 6h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
+
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 Yonkers, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dayton, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Yonkers, 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 Long Mountain Parkway for about 107.6 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 365 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|NY 9A / Saw Mill River Road
Turn left onto NY 9A / Saw Mill River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
20 mi into trip|~28m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
6
35.5 mi into trip|~47m in
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
Exit 18
Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State T...
6
277.3 mi into trip|~5h 39m in|I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway
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
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
6
365 mi into trip|~7h 24m in
Take the exit toward NY 417, NY 353: Salamanca
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20
Toward NY 417, NY 353: Salamanca
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.09 one way
$126.18 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$68.46
$136.93
premium
$4.85
$74.44
$148.88
diesel
$4.80
$73.64
$147.28
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
New York State Thruway
(16.6 mi)$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
$63
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$194–$304
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117
1
$40.95
$18.72
Efficient EV
97.5
1
$34.13
$15.60
EV Truck/SUV
156
1
$54.60
$24.96
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
46 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
Yonkers, NY
Late night
in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dayton, NY
Late night
in Dayton on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Smoke
W 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Hamilton, NY
195 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
11 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 5m 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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 93% of the 390 miles on major roads like I 86 and the Southern Tier Expressway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway before transitioning to more varied road types. Expect a good amount of cruising with fewer exits for a substantial portion of the drive, especially on the expressway segments.
93% 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: 107.6 mi on Long Mountain Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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.
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 20 significant decision points across 390 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,058 ft86 ft
Total Climb
2,881 ft
Total Descent
1,630 ft
Highest Point
2,058 ft
~306.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,972 ft
Notable High Points
2,058 ft at ~306.4 miles+571 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yonkers, NY and Dayton, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain and New York State Thruway.
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
The longest stretch is about 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. 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 195 miles on day one.
Expect about $0.83 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 22 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 Dayton, 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. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
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 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dayton, NY before the return drive.
