Trip from Elma, NY to Syracuse, NY

Drive Time

2h 56m

Distance

142.3 mi

229 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 45m ★

6 AM

2h 56m

8 AM

3h 19m

10 AM

3h 4m

12 PM

3h 2m

3 PM

3h 5m

5 PM

3h 18m

8 PM

2h 50m

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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Elma, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Syracuse, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

The drive from Elma, NY to Syracuse, NY covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 56m 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, I 690, Genesee Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.8 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.17 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

71.2 miles from Elma, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 56m drive with frequent turns across 142.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 22 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 111.8 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 20.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 142.3 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 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

20.3 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 90 East: Albany

132.4 mi into trip | ~2h 41m 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

133 mi into trip | ~2h 43m 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

141.2 mi into trip | ~2h 53m 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

141.3 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Downtown

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Elma, NY to Syracuse, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Fulton along the way.

Fulton

132.4 mi in | ~2h 41m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
New York State Thruway	111.8 mi	2h 9m
I 690	7.9 mi	9m
Genesee Street	5.9 mi	8m
Walden Avenue	5.7 mi	8m
Bowen Road	3.1 mi	5m
Alleghany Road	3 mi	4m
Cemetery Road	1.8 mi	3m
West Main Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 111.8 mi, about 2h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elma, NY and Syracuse, NY.

Start on Bowen Road

3.1 mi · 5 min · Bowen Road

Turn right onto Broadway Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Broadway Street

Turn left onto Cemetery Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · Cemetery Road

At the end of the road, turn right onto Walden Avenue

5.7 mi · 8 min · Walden Avenue

Continue on Genesee Street

5.9 mi · 8 min · Genesee Street

Continue on West Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn left onto Alleghany Road

3.0 mi · 4 min · Alleghany Road

Take the exit left

367 ft · 9 sec

Continue straight

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East: Albany

0.2 mi · 30 sec · I 90 East: Albany

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

112 mi · 2 hr 9 min · New York State Thruway

Take the exit slight right toward I 690, NY 690: Syracuse, Fulton

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 690, NY 690: Syracuse, Fulton

Keep slight right to continue on I 690 East: Fairgrounds, Syracuse

0.2 mi · 30 sec · I 690 East: Fairgrounds, Syracuse

Continue straight

7.9 mi · 9 min

Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Downtown

Keep slight right to continue on Downtown

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Downtown

Turn left onto West Genesee Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Genesee Street

Continue on James Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · James Street

Turn right onto Oswego Boulevard

318 ft · 12 sec · Oswego Boulevard

Continue on Erie Boulevard East

525 ft · 19 sec · Erie Boulevard East

Turn right onto South State Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · South State Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 71.2 miles from Elma, NY, or about 1h 31m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.8 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 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 71.2 miles or 1h 31m 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 23m

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 Elma, 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 Elma, NY

This is one driving day of about 142.3 miles and 2h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elma, 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 111.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71.2 mi from Elma, NY · 1h 31m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Victor, NY

71 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

Thompson, NY

Fuel and coffee

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

Manchester, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.2 miles from Elma, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.8 miles.

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.

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

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 103

View on nps.gov

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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 112.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.17 one way

$46.33 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$25.10	$50.21
premium	$4.88	$27.36	$54.71
diesel	$5.64	$31.61	$63.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	42.7	$14.94	$6.83
Efficient EV	35.6	$12.45	$5.69
EV Truck/SUV	56.9	$19.92	$9.11

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Elma, NY

Late night in Elma on Monday

Local time

5:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Syracuse, NY

Late night in Syracuse on Monday

Local time

5:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°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

14 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

2h 56m 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 Elma, NY to Syracuse, NY covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 690, Genesee Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 71.2 miles from Elma, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.17 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

On the drive from Elma, NY to Syracuse, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Fulton along the way.

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Return Trip

Syracuse, NY to Elma, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

142.3 mi 2h 57m

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Trip from Elma, NY to Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, NY

National Parks Near This Route

Women's Rights National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Elma, NY

Syracuse, NY

Same local time

14 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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