Trip from Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

7h 45m

Distance

373.8 mi

602 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$62

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min

4 AM

7h 36m ★

6 AM

7h 45m

8 AM

8h 4m

10 AM

7h 52m

12 PM

7h 50m

3 PM

7h 53m

5 PM

8h 3m

8 PM

7h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, suburb of NYC

Inwood, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Amherst, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Inwood to Amherst covers 373.8 miles and typically takes about 7 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because this journey stays within the Northeast region, you will remain in New York State for the duration of the trip. While it is technically possible to complete this drive in a single day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $59 for fuel to cover the distance. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, it is a demanding drive that requires your full attention. Carefully consider your schedule before deciding if a single day is realistic for your travel pace.

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

186.9 miles from Inwood, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through local roads starting with West 179th Street and utilize I-95 South and the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on West 179th Street, you will be making frequent adjustments and turns throughout the journey. This is not a monotonous highway grind; instead, it demands constant engagement from the driver. Prepare for a technical experience that focuses on navigating local infrastructure rather than sustained high-speed travel.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 47 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 99.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 373.8 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 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 33 key points

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

3.4 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

3.6 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

6 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

270.1 mi into trip | ~5h 42m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

372.6 mi into trip | ~7h 42m in

Take the exit toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem R...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.

Albany

178.7 mi in | ~3h 36m | via I 81

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
New York State Thruway	99.6 mi	1h 55m
I 81	97.3 mi	1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway	68.2 mi	1h 20m
I 380	27.7 mi	30m
Keystone Shortway	17.3 mi	24m
Clinton Street	10.5 mi	15m
East Lake Road	9.9 mi	14m
Chase Street	9.8 mi	11m

Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 99.6 mi, about 1h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Inwood, NY and Amherst, NY.

Start on US 9

1.3 mi · 2 min · Broadway

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto US 9

0.1 mi · 20 sec · West 179th Street

Take the ramp onto US 9

0.3 mi · 39 sec · US 9

Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey

Merge onto I 95; US 1; US 9

0.4 mi · 43 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.5 mi · 48 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.6 mi · 39 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 95 EXPR; NJTP

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

2.0 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 46 sec

Exit 293 Toward I 380 North: Scranton

Continue on I 380

28 mi · 30 min · I 380

Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 81

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 81

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 81

Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

37 mi · 43 min · I 81

Toward I 81 North: Syracuse

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec

Exit 52 Toward NY 13: Cortland

Turn right onto NY 13

39 ft · 5 sec · Clinton Avenue

Turn left onto Locust Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Locust Avenue

Continue on Albany Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Albany Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Turn left onto NY 41

10 mi · 15 min · Clinton Street

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41

Continue on NY 41

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 48 sec · East Lake Street

Turn left onto US 20

7.3 mi · 13 min · East Genesee Street

Turn right onto US 20

0.2 mi · 12 sec · North Fulton Street

Turn left onto US 20; NY 5

0.4 mi · 1 min · Arterial West

Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38

9.8 mi · 11 min · Chase Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 20; NY 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road

Turn right onto NY 318

4.1 mi · 7 min · NY 318

Continue on NY 318

319 ft · 10 sec · NY 318

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto NY 414

0.3 mi · 28 sec · State Route 414

Use the right lane.

Continue on NY 414

217 ft · 11 sec · Ridge Road

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Use the left lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 West: Buffalo Use the straight / right lanes.

Merge onto I 90

100 mi · 1 hr 55 min · New York State Thruway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 36 sec

Exit 50 Toward I 290: Niagara Falls Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 290

1.8 mi · 2 min · Youngmann Expressway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 6 Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto NY 324

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Drive

Use the left / right lanes.

Turn left onto NY 263

469 ft · 13 sec · Millersport Highway

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

NY 263

Trip Plan

To manage the 7 hour and 45 minute duration effectively, plan for at least 2 stops along the way to break up the intensity of the drive. Starting your journey early in the day is essential to avoid the fatigue that comes with navigating so many turns in one sitting. Since this is a local-heavy route, keep your navigation tools handy and stay alert for unexpected traffic patterns on the local roads. If you find the constant turning taxing, consider building in extra time for longer breaks to ensure you reach Amherst safely. Always keep your $59 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling intervals throughout the day.

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 186.9 miles from Inwood, NY, or about 3h 46m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 82 miles or 1h 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 186.9 miles or 3h 46m 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Inwood, 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 Inwood, NY

This is one driving day of about 373.8 miles and 7h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Inwood, 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 New York State Thruway for about 99.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 186.9 mi from Inwood, NY · 3h 46m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Union, NY

187 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Endwell, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 186.9 miles from Inwood, 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 99.6 miles.

Arriving in Amherst, NY

The final approach into Amherst, 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 Amherst, 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

$61.53 one way

$123.06 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 131 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$66.53	$133.07
premium	$4.92	$72.45	$144.90
diesel	$5.61	$82.53	$165.06

Estimated Tolls: $21.26

George Washington Bridge $16.00

New York State Thruway (99.6 mi) $4.98

New Jersey Turnpike (2 mi) $0.28

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

$62

Tolls

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$108–$133

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 130.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	112.1	1	$39.25	$17.94
Efficient EV	93.5	1	$32.71	$14.95
EV Truck/SUV	149.5	1	$52.33	$23.92

Gas CO2

131 kg

EV CO2

44 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Inwood, NY

Evening in Inwood on Wednesday

Local time

7:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amherst, NY

Evening in Amherst on Wednesday

Local time

7:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

53°F

Union, NY

187 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

4 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

7h 45m 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 Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY covers 373.8 miles and takes about 7h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 186.9 miles from Inwood, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.53 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.

On the drive from Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Inwood, NY or browse trips ending in Amherst, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Explore maps for Inwood, NY or Amherst, NY on MapSof.net.

Trip from Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Amherst, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Inwood, NY

Amherst, NY

Same local time

4 degrees cooler at arrival

7h 45m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Amherst, NY

More from Inwood, NY

More trips to Amherst, NY