Trip from Amherst, NY to Suffern, NY

Drive Time

7h 16m

Distance

347.4 mi

559 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$57

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

7h 5m ★

6 AM

7h 16m

8 AM

7h 38m

10 AM

7h 24m

12 PM

7h 22m

3 PM

7h 25m

5 PM

7h 37m

8 PM

7h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Amherst, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Traveling from Amherst to Suffern covers 347.4 miles and typically takes about 7 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. You will primarily navigate a combination of I-86, the New York State Thruway, and I-81, making this a straightforward trek across the Northeast. While it is technically possible to complete this journey in a single day, the seven-plus hour duration makes for a long haul, so be prepared for a full day of travel. You should budget approximately $57 for fuel to cover the distance. This route is best suited for those who prefer a single-day push to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stay, provided you are comfortable with a mixed driving profile.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

173.7 miles from Amherst, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip features a mixed drive profile, with highways accounting for 57% of your total travel time. You will experience a varied road environment, balancing fast-paced interstate travel with segments that require more focused attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 130.4 miles on I-86, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Expect the road's personality to shift as you transition between major arteries and the New York State Thruway. Navigating these different road types ensures the drive remains engaging rather than purely monotonous, though you should remain alert to changing traffic patterns throughout the day.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 86 is the longest continuous segment at about 130.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 347.4 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 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 200 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3.1 mi into trip | ~4m 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

103.1 mi into trip | ~2h 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

200 mi into trip | ~4h 13m 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 none lane. Toward New York

330.4 mi into trip | ~6h 54m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City

345.1 mi into trip | ~7h 12m in

Take the exit toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern

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 15A Toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern

Towns Along This Route

Between Amherst, NY and Suffern, NY, road signs point toward Clyde and New York.

Clyde

103.1 mi in | ~2h

New York

200 mi in | ~4h 13m | via I 86; NY 17

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 86	130.4 mi	2h 40m
New York State Thruway	112.5 mi	2h 10m
I 81	45.4 mi	54m
East Lake Road	9.9 mi	14m
State Highway 41	9.8 mi	13m
Clark Street Road	9.6 mi	11m
Genesee Street	5.5 mi	9m
State Route 41	4.8 mi	7m

Longest stretch: I 86 — 130.4 mi, about 2h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and Suffern, NY.

Start on NY 263

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Millersport Highway

Use the none lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward I 290 E

Merge onto I 290

2.4 mi · 3 min · Youngmann Expressway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 57 sec

Exit 1-49 Toward I 90 East: Albany Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 90

99 mi · 1 hr 54 min · New York State Thruway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

327 ft · 7 sec

Continue on NY 414

0.3 mi · 35 sec · State Route 414

Turn left onto NY 318

4.1 mi · 7 min · NY 318

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road

Continue on US 20; NY 5

9.6 mi · 11 min · Clark Street Road

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto State Street

226 ft · 12 sec · State Street

Turn left onto Dill Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Dill Street

Continue on Loop Road

458 ft · 16 sec · Loop Road

Turn left onto Genesee Street

5.5 mi · 9 min · Genesee Street

Continue on US 20

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Genesee Street Road

Turn right onto NY 41

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Lake Street

Continue on NY 41

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

9.8 mi · 13 min · State Highway 41

Turn right onto NY 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · North West Street

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min

Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward I 81 South: Binghamton

Merge onto I 81

45 mi · 54 min · I 81

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17

130 mi · 2 hr 40 min · I 86; NY 17

Toward New York Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 59 sec

Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 87

13 mi · 15 min · New York State Thruway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec

Exit 15A Toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto Old Route 17

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Old Route 17

Turn right onto NY 59

1.0 mi · 1 min · Orange Turnpike

Use the none lane.

Continue on NY 59

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Orange Avenue

Continue on US 202; 59

273 ft · 7 sec · Orange Avenue

Turn left onto NY 59

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Lafayette Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn slight right onto Washington Avenue

73 ft · 1 sec · Washington Avenue

Arrive at destination

Washington Avenue

Trip Plan

To keep your energy levels consistent, plan for at least two designated stops along the way. Given the 7-hour and 16-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you arrive in Suffern before late evening. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 130.4-mile stretch on I-86 to ensure you aren't caught off guard between service areas. Because this is a long single-day trip, utilize your two stops to stretch and reset rather than just fueling up. Being flexible with your departure time can help you avoid peak traffic periods on the more congested sections of the Thruway.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 173.7 miles from Amherst, NY, or about 3h 42m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.4 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 173.7 miles or 3h 42m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffern, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Amherst, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Amherst, NY

This is one driving day of about 347.4 miles and 7h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Amherst, NY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 130.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 173.7 mi from Amherst, NY · 3h 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Syracuse, NY

174 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

Manchester, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Syracuse, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 173.7 miles from Amherst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.4 miles.

Arriving in Suffern, NY

The final approach into Suffern, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Suffern, NY.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$56.56 one way

$113.11 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 122 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$61.29	$122.57
premium	$4.88	$66.79	$133.57
diesel	$5.64	$77.18	$154.36

Estimated Tolls: $5.69

New York State Thruway (112.5 mi) $5.62

Orange Turnpike (1 mi) $0.07

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

$57

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 121.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	104.2	1	$36.48	$16.68
Efficient EV	86.9	0	$30.40	$13.90
EV Truck/SUV	139	1	$48.64	$22.23

Gas CO2

122 kg

EV CO2

41 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Amherst, NY

Evening in Amherst on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Suffern, NY

Evening in Suffern on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°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

7 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

7h 16m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Amherst, NY to Suffern, NY covers 347.4 miles and takes about 7h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 86, New York State Thruway, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 173.7 miles from Amherst, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Amherst, NY and Suffern, NY, road signs point toward Clyde and New York.

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Return Trip

Suffern, NY to Amherst, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

346.5 mi 7h 17m

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Trip from Amherst, NY to Suffern, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Suffern, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Amherst, NY

Suffern, NY

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

7h 16m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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