Trip from Amherst, NY to Brooklyn, NY

Drive Time

6h 37m

Distance

397.6 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Amherst, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 397.6 miles and takes about 6h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 290 E, Youngmann Expressway, I 90 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.76 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

198.8 miles from Amherst, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 37m drive with frequent turns across 397.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 55 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 290 E is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 290 E	0 mi	0m
Youngmann Expressway	0 mi	0m
I 90 East	0 mi	0m
New York State Thruway	0 mi	0m
NY 414	0 mi	0m
State Route 414	0 mi	0m
Auburn Road	0 mi	0m
Clark Street Road	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: I 290 E — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Millersport Highway

2

Take the ramp slight right toward I 290 E

3

Merge slight left onto Youngmann Expressway

4

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East: Albany

5

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

6

Take the exit slight right toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde

7

Keep slight right

8

Continue on State Route 414

9

Turn left

10

At the end of the road, turn left onto Auburn Road

11

Continue on Clark Street Road

12

Turn right onto State Street

13

Turn left onto Dill Street

14

Continue on Loop Road

15

Turn left onto Genesee Street

16

Continue on West Genesee Street Road

17

Turn right onto East Lake Street

18

Continue on East Lake Road

19

Continue on State Route 41

20

Continue on East Lake Road

21

Continue on State Highway 41

22

Turn right onto North West Street

23

Take the ramp left

24

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Binghamton

25

Merge slight left

26

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton

27

Keep slight right to continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway

28

Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford

29

Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono

30

Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg

31

Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway

32

Take the exit slight left toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark

33

Continue on Essex Freeway

34

Take the exit slight right toward CR 508 East: Jersey City

35

Merge slight left onto Newark-Jersey City Turnpike

36

Continue on New Wittpenn Bridge

37

Take the exit slight right toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel

38

Keep slight left to continue on Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel

39

Turn straight

40

Merge slight right onto Conrail Viaduct

41

Continue on 12th Street Viaduct

42

Continue on 12th Street

43

Keep slight left to continue on Holland Tunnel

44

Take the exit slight right toward NY 9A

45

Turn slight left onto Laight Street

46

At the end of the road, turn left onto West Street

47

Take the exit slight left toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

48

Continue on Gowanus Expressway

49

Take the exit slight left toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway

50

Take the exit slight right toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

51

Turn left onto Caton Avenue

52

Turn right onto Coney Island Avenue

53

Turn left onto Church Avenue

54

Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue

55

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 198.8 miles from Amherst, NY.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 87 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 198.8 miles

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

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Amherst, NY

This is one driving day of about 397.6 miles and 6h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Amherst, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Apalachin, NY

199 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.

Popular next leg

Apalachin, NY to Brooklyn, NY

196.4 mi · 3h 43m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, NY.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 198.8 mi from Amherst, NY

Auburn, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apalachin, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 198.8 miles from Amherst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.01	$62.76	$125.51
midgrade	$4.48	$70.14	$140.29
premium	$4.86	$76.09	$152.18
diesel	$4.69	$73.48	$146.96

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 139.1 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Amherst, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 397.6 miles and takes about 6h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 290 E, Youngmann Expressway, I 90 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 198.8 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 $62.76 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.