Origin
Ellisburg, NY
Morning in Ellisburg on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ellisburg, NY to Syracuse, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
53.7 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ellisburg, NY
Mel Audelo
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ellisburg, NY to Syracuse, NY is 53.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via I 81 and State Highway 193, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a quick trip, primarily on major highways, making it ideal for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll find it's a practical option for a short journey, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
About the Cities
Arriving in Syracuse, NY
Full guide →Founded 1848
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 53.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 81. You'll experience a longest stretch of 48.7 miles on I 81, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The drive is characterized by its efficiency, moving you directly from point A to point B without many detours. Expect a smooth, high-speed experience for the majority of the time, with brief transitions onto local roads like State Highway 193 and Eisenhower Road.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 48.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and State Highway 193. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 53.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 3.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 81 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 81 South
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward Clinton Street, Salina Street
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 19
Toward Clinton Street, Salina Street
8
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Salina Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Salina Street
6
53.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 11 / North State Street
Turn right onto US 11 / North State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 48.7 mi | 56m |
| State Highway 193 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Eisenhower Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| I-81 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North State Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Willow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Salina Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 48.7 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellisburg, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on NY 289
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto NY 193
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Eisenhower Road
3
Continue on NY 193
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 193
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 81 South
5
Merge onto I 81
41 mi
·
47 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I-81
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I-81
7
Continue on I 81
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
251 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 19
Toward Clinton Street, Salina Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Salina Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North Salina Street
501 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Salina Street
11
Turn left onto East Willow Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Willow Street
12
Turn right onto US 11
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North State Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
US 11
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.8 mi from Ellisburg, NY · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.8 miles from Ellisburg, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Syracuse, NY
The final approach into Syracuse, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.84 one way
$17.68 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.41 | $20.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.86 | $23.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Morning in Syracuse on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
West Monroe, NY
27 mi in
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
19 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
1h 5m 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 Ellisburg, NY to Syracuse, NY covers 53.7 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, State Highway 193, Eisenhower Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.8 miles from Ellisburg, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ellisburg, NY to Syracuse, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include 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.
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