Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
72 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Brighton, NY
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Amherst, NY to Brighton, NY covers 72 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, Western Expressway, Youngmann Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.2 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.85 one way before food or hotel costs.
Amherst is a town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
The drive from Amherst, NY to Brighton, NY covers 72 miles and takes about 1h 29m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
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 72 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 490, NY 19: LeRoy, Rochester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Winton Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Halstead Street
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Amherst, NY to Brighton, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Rochester along the way.
Rochester
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 41.2 mi | 47m |
| Western Expressway | 25.8 mi | 32m |
| Youngmann Expressway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Millersport Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Winton Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Halstead Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and Brighton, NY.
Start on NY 263
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 290
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on I 490
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Winton Road
Turn right onto Halstead Street
Turn sharp left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36 mi from Amherst, NY · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Amherst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Brighton, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.85 one way
$23.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $12.82 | $25.63 |
| premium | $4.92 | $13.95 | $27.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.90 | $31.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$2
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Amherst on Saturday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Brighton on Saturday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
59°F
Churchville, NY
36 mi in
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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