Yonkers to Lowville is 280.7 miles and takes about 5h 46m via New York State Thruway, Bea Luck Road, and State Highway 12, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region towards another part of the Northeast. It's a trip best suited for a single day, offering a straightforward path to your destination. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct drive with minimal complexity.
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
140.4 miles from Yonkers, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
206.5 mi
4h 2m
Bea Luck Road
19.8 mi
23m
State Highway 12
12 mi
16m
State Highway 28
11.7 mi
17m
Erwin Parkway
9.7 mi
11m
West Monroe Street
9.7 mi
15m
NY 169
1.9 mi
2m
Saw Mill River Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 206.5 mi, about 4h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yonkers, NY and Lowville, 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
26 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 29AToward NY 169: Little Falls, DolgevilleUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·54 sec·this road
13
Continue on NY 169
1.9 mi·2 min·NY 169
14
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5; NY 167; NY 169
0.7 mi·1 min·NY 5; NY 167; NY 169
15
Turn right onto NY 167
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Ann Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto NY 169
9.7 mi·15 min·West Monroe Street
17
Continue on NY 28
3.2 mi·4 min·State Highway 28
18
Continue on NY 28
1.2 mi·1 min·Main Street
19
Continue on NY 28
2.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 28
20
Continue on NY 28
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
21
Continue on NY 8; NY 28
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 8
22
Turn right onto NY 28
6.0 mi·8 min·State Highway 28
23
Turn right onto NY 12
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 12
24
Continue on NY 12; NY 28
9.7 mi·11 min·Erwin Parkway
25
Continue on NY 12
0.8 mi·51 sec·State Highway 12
26
Continue on NY 12
20 mi·23 min·Bea Luck Road
27
Continue on NY 12
0.5 mi·1 min·Utica Boulevard
28
Continue on NY 12; NY 26
0.6 mi·1 min·South State Street
29
Turn right onto Shady Avenue
106 ft·4 sec·Shady Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Shady Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a 5h 46m drive that can be completed in one day, starting your trip in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. You'll have one designated stop, but feel free to add more as needed, especially since much of the route is on surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $47 for the 280.7 miles. Pay attention to the transition from the New York State Thruway to Bea Luck Road and State Highway 12, as this marks the shift to surface road driving.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 140.4 miles from Yonkers, NY, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 206.5 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 62 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.4 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Yonkers, NY
This is one driving day of about 280.7 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Yonkers, 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 206.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 209.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Nepperhan Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Nepperhan Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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.
5
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 87 / New York State Thruway
Merge onto I 87 / New York State Thruway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
29.2 mi into trip|~40m in|I 87 / New York State Thruway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87 / New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
209.8 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Take the exit toward NY 169: Little Falls, Dolgeville
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 29A
Toward NY 169: Little Falls, Dolgeville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.59 one way
$99.17 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$53.65
$107.31
premium
$5.28
$58.31
$116.61
diesel
$6.18
$68.29
$136.57
Estimated Tolls: $10.33
New York State Thruway
(206.5 mi)$10.33
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
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.2
1
$29.47
$13.47
Efficient EV
70.2
0
$24.56
$11.23
EV Truck/SUV
112.3
1
$39.30
$17.96
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Yonkers, NY
Morning
in Yonkers on Saturday
Local time
7:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Rain Showers
S 7 to 10 mph93% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lowville, NY
Morning
in Lowville on Saturday
Local time
7:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Periods Of Rain
SW 12 to 22 mph98% chanceLive forecast
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
10 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
5h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 242
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 13% of the drive on highways. You'll spend the longest stretch, 206.5 miles, on the New York State Thruway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a significant amount of driving on non-highway routes, which often means more varied scenery and potentially more local traffic as you get closer to your destination.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 206.5 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Nepperhan Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 280.7 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Nepperhan Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.1 miles (NY 9A / Saw Mill River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,011 ft86 ft
Total Climb
1,565 ft
Total Descent
766 ft
Highest Point
1,011 ft
~240.6 mi in
Elevation Range
925 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Yonkers, NY to Lowville, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Dolgeville along the way.
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 5h 46m. Total distance: 280.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 206.5 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.33 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 24 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 Lowville, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Nepperhan Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.1 miles (NY 9A / Saw Mill River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Fort Stanwix 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lowville, NY before the return drive.
