This 402.7-mile journey from Youngstown, NY, to Yonkers, NY, will take approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. Given the duration, it's best to plan for an overnight stop rather than attempting it as a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-86 and the New York State Thruway, making it a highway-focused drive through the Northeast region of New York. With an estimated fuel cost of $66 and two recommended stops, this trip offers a straightforward path for travelers. It's a practical option for those needing to traverse the state efficiently.
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
201.4 miles from Youngstown, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
129.9 mi
2h 40m
New York State Thruway
109.6 mi
2h 8m
I 81
45.4 mi
54m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Youngmann Expressway
9.5 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,020 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~94 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 3 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 Youngstown, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on NY 18F
0.2 mi·25 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto NY 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Lockport Street
3
Turn right
0.4 mi·1 min
4
Turn straight onto Niagara Scenic Parkway
5.2 mi·7 min·Niagara Scenic Parkway
5
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward NY 104 W, I 190: Canada, Buffalo
6
Turn straight onto NY 104
1.0 mi·1 min·NY 104
7
Turn left onto NY 265
0.7 mi·1 min·Military Road
8
Turn right onto Upper Mountain Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Upper Mountain Road
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I 190 South
10
Merge onto I 190
6.5 mi·7 min·Niagara Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 190
498 ft·7 sec·Niagara Thruway
12
Continue on I 190
0.8 mi·1 min·North Grand Island Bridge
13
Continue on I 190
6.8 mi·8 min·Niagara Thruway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 16Toward I 290 East: Tonawanda, RochesterUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on I 290
9.5 mi·12 min·Youngmann Expressway
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·57 sec
Exit 1-49Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 90
99 mi·1 hr 54 min·New York State Thruway
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
20
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
21
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
23
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
25
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
26
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
27
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
28
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
29
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
30
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
31
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
32
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
33
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
34
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
35
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
37
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
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.
39
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi·9 min·US 6
Exit 130AToward US 6: Bear Mountain
40
Enter roundabout
346 ft·4 sec
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
41
Continue
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
42
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
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.
44
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi·12 min·New York State Thruway
45
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 7AToward Saw Mill River Parkway SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi·10 min·Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
48
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward West Yonkers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
49
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Yonkers Avenue
50
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·57 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
51
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft·5 sec·South Broadway
Use the left lane.
52
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8.5-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid peak traffic, especially as you approach Yonkers. Splitting the journey into two days is highly recommended, allowing for a relaxed pace and time for your two planned stops. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the longest stretch of 129.9 miles on I-86, where services might be more spaced out. Planning your overnight stay around the halfway point will break up the driving and make the overall trip more manageable.
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 201.4 miles from Youngstown, NY, or about 4h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 89 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.4 miles or 4h 20m 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 201.4 miles or 4h 20m
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 7h 13m
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 Youngstown, 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 Youngstown, NY
Aim for roughly 201 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Yonkers, NY
Aim for roughly 201 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Youngstown, 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 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 34
5 decision points cluster between mile 23 and 382.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
23 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward I 290 East: Tonawanda, Rochester
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 16
Toward I 290 East: Tonawanda, Rochester
8
32.9 mi into trip|~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1-49
Toward I 90 East: Albany
8
132.9 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
7
229.8 mi into trip|~4h 54m 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
382.5 mi into trip|~8h 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.15 one way
$130.29 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg141 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$70.69
$141.39
premium
$4.85
$76.86
$153.72
diesel
$4.80
$76.04
$152.07
Estimated Tolls: $5.82
New York State Thruway
(109.6 mi)$5.48
Niagara Thruway
(6.9 mi)$0.34
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
$65
Tolls
$6
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.8
1
$42.28
$19.33
Efficient EV
100.7
1
$35.24
$16.11
EV Truck/SUV
161.1
2
$56.38
$25.77
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (67% 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
Youngstown, NY
Late night
in Youngstown on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Smoke
N 3 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Late night
in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Hamilton, NY
201 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
4 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
8h 30m 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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 152.8
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 138.9
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 402.7
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 402.7
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 402.7
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 402.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 61% of the route involving interstate travel. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a notable 129.9-mile segment on I-86. While the main roads are primarily interstates, the overall character is one of steady progress across New York. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently, with the majority of your time spent on high-speed, limited-access highways.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
52 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 New York State Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23 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 34 significant decision points across 402.7 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 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,683 ft86 ft
Total Climb
2,459 ft
Total Descent
2,669 ft
Highest Point
1,683 ft
~172.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,597 ft
Notable High Points
1,683 ft at ~172.6 miles+595 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Youngstown, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Rochester, Clyde, New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
Youngstown is the northwesternmost community in the state of New York. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Niagara River, on the border with Canada, made it a prime site for fortifications, the last of which has stood just north of the village since 1726.
Top landmarks
•Fort Niagara Light — lighthouse in New York, United States
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 129.9 miles on I 86. 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 201 miles on day one.
Expect about $5.82 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 25 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and Hamilton Grange 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 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.0 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.
