Origin
Zena, NY
Evening in Zena on Sunday
Local time
7:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zena, NY to Yonkers, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
98 mi
158 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Zena, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Zena to Yonkers is 98 miles and takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes via New York State Thruway and Saw Mill River Parkway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel once you leave the main highway. It's a straightforward option if you're looking for a relatively quick trip between these two points, with a budget-friendly fuel cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49 miles from Zena, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 80.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| State Route 28 | 5 mi | 8m |
| Zena Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Yonkers Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Nepperhan Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Broadway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zena, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on CR 39
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Zena Road
2
Turn sharp left onto NY 28
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 28
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Enter roundabout
340 ft
·
4 sec
Toward I 87: New York State Thruway
4
Continue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 87: New York State Thruway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 87: New York State Thruway
6
Merge onto I 87
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
19 mi
·
24 min
·
New York State Thruway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Yonkers Avenue
13
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Nepperhan Avenue
14
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this is easily a same-day trip. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of time to reach Yonkers without feeling rushed. Your longest stretch on the New York State Thruway is over 80 miles, so plan for your last fuel stop before you get on that segment if you prefer not to rely on highway services. The $16 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to check current gas prices. Since this is a shorter drive, you have flexibility to depart when it suits you best, and the transition from highway to surface roads means you'll want to be mindful of local traffic patterns as you get closer to Yonkers.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49 miles from Zena, NY, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 40m
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 Zena, 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 Zena, NY
This is one driving day of about 98 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Zena, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 80.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49 miles from Zena, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 98 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
NY 28 / State Route 28
Turn sharp left onto NY 28 / State Route 28
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
87.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
I 87 / New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 / New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
88.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m 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
7
96.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward West Yonkers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
7
98 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.93 one way
$31.85 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $17.24 | $34.48 |
| premium | $4.87 | $18.77 | $37.55 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $20.85 | $41.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.03
New York State Thruway
(80.7 mi)
$4.03
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
$16
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
| Efficient EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.72 | $6.27 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Evening in Yonkers on Sunday
Local time
7:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only about 13% of the drive on highways. You'll spend the majority of your time navigating local routes, with a significant stretch of 80.7 miles on the New York State Thruway. After that highway segment, you'll transition to Saw Mill River Parkway and State Route 28, which will likely involve more frequent intersections and varied speed limits.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near NY 28 / State Route 28.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 11 significant decision points across 98 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 1.9 miles (NY 28 / State Route 28): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.5 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Zena, NY to Yonkers, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Saw Mill River Parkway South along the way.
Saw Mill River Parkway South
88.5 mi in
|
~1h 50m
About the Cities
Starting in Zena, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Yonkers, NY
Full guide →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
- • Untermyer Park — public garden
- • Hudson River Museum — museum in Yonkers, N.Y.
- • Glenview Mansion — historic house in New York, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 98 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.03 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (NY 28 / State Route 28): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.5 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yonkers, NY before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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