The drive from Busti, NY to Syracuse, NY covers 220.2 miles and takes about 4h 30m 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, State Highway 60, I 690 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 177.9 miles on New York State Thruway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.25 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
110.1 miles from Busti, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Syracuse is a city in Central New York. With a population of 149,000 in city proper and 662,000 in its metro area (2020), Syracuse is the fifth largest city in the state of New York, and the third largest in Upstate New York.
Top landmarks
•Oncenter War Memorial Arena — arena in Syracuse, New York
•Everson Museum of Art — art museum in Syracuse, New York
•Niagara Mohawk Building — historic commercial building in New York, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 220.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 30m drive with frequent turns across 220.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 177.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 4.7 miles in near South Main Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 220.2 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 4.7 miles (South Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 210.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.7 mi into trip|~8m in|South Main Street
Turn sharp left onto South Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
210.2 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 690, NY 690: Syracuse, Fulton
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 39
Toward I 690, NY 690: Syracuse, Fulton
6
210.9 mi into trip|~4h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 690 East: Fairgrounds, Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 690 East: Fairgrounds, Syracuse
6
219.1 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown
8
219.2 mi into trip|~4h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
177.9 mi
3h 27m
State Highway 60
14.4 mi
18m
I 690
7.9 mi
9m
North Main Street
7.6 mi
10m
Forest Avenue
3.8 mi
6m
North Main Street Bridge
1.8 mi
4m
NY-60
1.7 mi
3m
South Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 177.9 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Busti, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on Busti-Stillwater Road
52 ft·9 sec·Busti-Stillwater Road
2
Turn sharp right onto Forest Avenue
3.8 mi·6 min·Forest Avenue
3
Turn left onto Barrett Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Barrett Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Prather Avenue
101 ft·3 sec·Prather Avenue
5
Turn right onto County Touring Route 30
0.1 mi·18 sec·Baker Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto Harrison Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Harrison Street
7
Turn sharp left onto South Main Street
412 ft·11 sec·South Main Street
8
Continue on North Main Street Bridge
1.8 mi·4 min·North Main Street Bridge
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 60
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Main Street
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 60
3.7 mi·5 min·North Main Street
11
Continue on NY 60
1.5 mi·2 min·NY-60
12
Continue on NY 60
0.2 mi·31 sec·NY-60
13
Continue on NY 60
3.7 mi·5 min·North Main Street
14
Continue on NY 60
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 60
15
Continue on NY 60
0.7 mi·51 sec·South Main Street
16
Continue on NY 60
7.2 mi·8 min·State Highway 60
17
Enter roundabout onto NY 60
116 ft·1 sec·Bennett Road
18
Continue on NY 60
0.6 mi·40 sec·Bennett Road
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·22 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
21
Merge onto I 90
178 mi·3 hr 27 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 39Toward I 690, NY 690: Syracuse, FultonUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 690 East: Fairgrounds, Syracuse
24
Continue on I 690
7.9 mi·9 min·I 690
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward DowntownUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward DowntownUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn left onto NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·West Genesee Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on NY 5
0.1 mi·23 sec·James Street
29
Turn right onto NY 5
317 ft·11 sec·Oswego Boulevard
30
Continue on NY 5
524 ft·18 sec·Erie Boulevard East
31
Turn right onto US 11
0.2 mi·25 sec·South State Street
Use the straight lane.
32
Arrive at destination
US 11
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 110.1 miles from Busti, NY, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.9 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 48 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.1 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Syracuse, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Busti, 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 Busti, NY
This is one driving day of about 220.2 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Busti, 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.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 177.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.1 mi from Busti, NY
· 2h 19m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 182.2
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.25 one way
$72.49 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$39.19
$78.39
premium
$4.92
$42.68
$85.36
diesel
$5.61
$48.62
$97.23
Estimated Tolls: $8.90
New York State Thruway
(177.9 mi)$8.90
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
$36
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.12
$10.57
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.27
$8.81
EV Truck/SUV
88.1
1
$30.83
$14.09
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Busti, NY
Night
in Busti on Friday
Local time
11:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Night
in Syracuse on Friday
Local time
11:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Alabama, NY
110 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
14 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
4h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Busti, NY to Syracuse, NY covers 220.2 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, State Highway 60, I 690. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.1 miles from Busti, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.25 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 220.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (South Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 210.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Busti, NY to Syracuse, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Women's Rights National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
