The drive from Gaines, NY to Yonkers, NY covers 352.3 miles and takes about 7h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 86, I 81, New York State Thruway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 129.9 miles on I 86.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.18 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
176.1 miles from Gaines, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 51m into the drive
.
Yonkers is a city of 211,569 people (2020) in Westchester County. The third most populous city in New York state, Yonkers is a suburb of New York City and borders the Borough of the Bronx. Yonkers is known as the "City of Seven Hills," which are Park, Nodine, Ridge, Cross, Locust, Glen, and Church hills.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 31m. Total distance: 352.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 7h 31m highway drive covering 352.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 86 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 129.9 miles on I 86.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 58 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 86 is the longest continuous segment at about 129.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 82.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 352.3 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 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.4 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 332.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 31 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
7
179.4 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New York
8
332.1 mi into trip|~7h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, W...
7
342.7 mi into trip|~7h 18m in
Take the exit toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
7
351 mi into trip|~7h 29m in
Take the exit toward West Yonkers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaines, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
Clyde
82.4 mi in|~1h 42m
New York
179.4 mi in|~3h 55m|via I 86; NY 17
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
316.4 mi in|~6h 44m
White Plains
332.1 mi in|~7h 3m
New York State Thruway South
332.1 mi in|~7h 3m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
129.9 mi
2h 40m
I 81
45.4 mi
54m
New York State Thruway
40.3 mi
48m
Western Expressway
20.1 mi
26m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaines, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on NY 279
1.9 mi·2 min·Gaines Road
2
Turn straight onto NY 98
0.5 mi·51 sec·Oak Orchard Road
3
Continue on NY 98
1.0 mi·1 min·North Main Street
4
Turn left onto NY 31
1.4 mi·1 min·East Avenue
5
Continue on NY 31
3.8 mi·4 min·State Route 31
6
Continue on NY 31
1.1 mi·1 min·Fancher Road
7
Turn straight onto NY 31
0.3 mi·18 sec·State Route 31
8
Continue on NY 31
2.3 mi·2 min·Holley Road
9
Continue on NY 31
0.5 mi·36 sec·West Albion Street
10
Continue on NY 31
0.1 mi·7 sec·Wright Street
11
Continue on NY 31
408 ft·5 sec·Public Square
12
Continue on NY 31
382 ft·5 sec·Mechanic Street
13
Continue on NY 31
0.5 mi·1 min·State Street
14
Continue on NY 31
1.6 mi·2 min·Brockport-Holley Road
15
Continue on NY 31
1.0 mi·1 min·West Avenue
16
Turn right onto NY 19 Truck; NY 31
1.5 mi·1 min·Redman Road
17
Turn left onto NY 19 Truck; NY 31
1.2 mi·1 min·Fourth Section Road
18
Continue on NY 31
4.8 mi·5 min·Brockport-Spencerport Road
19
Continue on NY 531
7.5 mi·8 min·NY 531
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 490 East: Rochester
21
Merge onto I 490
20 mi·26 min·Western Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
23
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
26
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
27
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
29
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
31
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
32
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
33
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
34
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
35
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
36
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
37
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
38
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
39
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
40
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
41
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
42
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
43
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
130 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi·9 min·US 6
Exit 130AToward US 6: Bear Mountain
46
Enter roundabout
346 ft·4 sec
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
47
Continue
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 18Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
48
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 9EToward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway SouthUse the right lane.
50
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi·12 min·New York State Thruway
51
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 7AToward Saw Mill River Parkway SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi·10 min·Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
54
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward West Yonkers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
55
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Yonkers Avenue
56
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·57 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
57
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft·5 sec·South Broadway
Use the left lane.
58
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.1 miles from Gaines, NY, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 78 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.1 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yonkers, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gaines, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gaines, NY
This is one driving day of about 352.3 miles and 7h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Gaines, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 129.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 176.1 mi from Gaines, NY
· 3h 51m into the drive
The midpoint is around 176.1 miles from Gaines, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.9 miles.
Arriving in Yonkers, NY
The final approach into Yonkers, 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 Yonkers, 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.
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...
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...
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 352.3
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 352.3
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 352.3
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 352.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.18 one way
$120.36 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg128 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$65.07
$130.15
premium
$4.92
$70.86
$141.72
diesel
$5.61
$80.72
$161.44
Estimated Tolls: $2.01
New York State Thruway
(40.3 mi)$2.01
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
$60
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
41 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
HondoGO Charging Station
Garnerville, New York
Other
1 DCFC
ViaLynk Charging Station
Goshen, New York
ViaLynk
1 DCFC
ChargeSmart EV Charging Station
Auburn, New York
Other
1 DCFC
EVolve NY Charging Station
Phelps, New York
Other
1 DCFC
EVolve NY Charging Station
Spencerport, New York
Other
1 DCFC
EVolve NY Charging Station
Stony Point, New York
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Auburn, New York
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Binghamton, New York
Electrify America
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 17
Other: 11
ViaLynk: 4
Electrify America: 3
EV Connect: 3
Tesla: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.7
1
$36.99
$16.91
Efficient EV
88.1
1
$30.83
$14.09
EV Truck/SUV
140.9
1
$49.32
$22.55
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Gaines, NY
Morning
in Gaines on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yonkers, NY
Morning
in Yonkers on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
13 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
7h 31m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gaines, NY to Yonkers, NY covers 352.3 miles and takes about 7h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 86, I 81, New York State Thruway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 176.1 miles from Gaines, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.99 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 31 significant decision points across 352.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.4 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 332.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Gaines, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
