Origin
Amherst, NY
Night in Amherst on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
156.2 mi
251 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 11m
★
6 AM
3h 23m
8 AM
3h 47m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 29m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 46m
8 PM
3h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Cortland, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY covers 156.2 miles and takes about 3h 23m 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 $25.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.1 miles from Amherst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 23m drive with frequent turns across 156.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 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.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY is easy. At 3h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 E | — | — |
| Youngmann Expressway | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
| New York State Thruway | — | — |
| NY 414 | — | — |
| State Route 414 | — | — |
| Auburn Road | — | — |
| Clark Street Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 290 E
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and Cortland, NY.
1
Start on Millersport Highway
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Millersport Highway
2
Take the ramp slight right toward I 290 E
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 290 E
3
Merge slight left onto Youngmann Expressway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
4
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East: Albany
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
I 90 East: Albany
5
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
99 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
New York State Thruway
6
Take the exit slight right toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
7
Keep slight right
328 ft
·
8 sec
8
Continue on State Route 414
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
State Route 414
9
Turn left
4.1 mi
·
7 min
10
At the end of the road, turn left onto Auburn Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
11
Continue on Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Clark Street Road
12
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft
·
12 sec
·
State Street
13
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Dill Street
14
Continue on Loop Road
459 ft
·
17 sec
·
Loop Road
15
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Genesee Street
16
Continue on West Genesee Street Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West Genesee Street Road
17
Turn right onto East Lake Street
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Lake Street
18
Continue on East Lake Road
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
19
Continue on State Route 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
20
Continue on East Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
21
Continue on State Highway 41
9.8 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 41
22
Turn right onto North West Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North West Street
23
Continue on West Homer Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Homer Road
24
Turn left onto Fisher Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Fisher Avenue
25
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Main Street
26
Continue on Homer Avenue
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Homer Avenue
27
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Main Street
28
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Main Street
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.1 miles from Amherst, NY, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
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 34 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.1 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cortland, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Amherst, NY
This is one driving day of about 156.2 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.1 mi from Amherst, NY · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.1 miles from Amherst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cortland, NY
The final approach into Cortland, 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 Cortland, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.71 one way
$51.42 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $27.80 | $55.60 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.27 | $60.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.49 | $68.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.40 | $7.50 |
| Efficient EV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.67 | $6.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.5 | 0 | $21.87 | $10.00 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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
Cortland, NY
Night in Cortland on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Clyde, NY
78 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.
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
11 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
3h 23m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY covers 156.2 miles and takes about 3h 23m 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 78.1 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 $25.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY is easy. At 3h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Amherst, NY to Cortland, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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