Traveling from Irvington to Amherst covers 382.9 miles across the Northeast, a journey that typically takes about 6 hours of drive time. Because this trip is manageable within a single day, you can complete it comfortably without needing an overnight stay if you get an early start. Budgeting approximately $62 for fuel will cover your transit from the Hudson Valley to Western New York. You will navigate a mix of local roads like North and South Broadway before transitioning onto I-87 North. While the route is straightforward, the turn-heavy nature of the local segments means your focus will be required throughout the drive.
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
181.2 miles from Irvington, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 48m into the drive
.
Irvington is a village of 6,500 people (2019) in Westchester County in the state of New York. It takes its name from the author Washington Irving, who lived nearby.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 40m. Total distance: 362.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 40m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that contrasts significantly with a standard interstate cruise. Since the route relies heavily on local thoroughfares, you won't find the monotonous stretches typical of pure highway travel. You will navigate through varying road conditions as you shift from local Broadway access points onto I-87 North. This path demands your attention, particularly in the initial segments where turns are frequent. Be prepared for a dynamic experience behind the wheel that keeps you engaged rather than cruising on autopilot.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 107.6 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 9.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 362.3 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 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 258.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 258.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
9.9 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
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 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
7
258.6 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
258.8 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
358.9 mi into trip|~7h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
8
361.1 mi into trip|~7h 38m 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.
Between Irvington, NY and Amherst, NY, road signs point toward New York State Thruway and Albany.
New York State Thruway
25.5 mi in|~36m
Albany
167.2 mi in|~3h 31m|via I 81
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
New York State Thruway
107.1 mi
2h 5m
I 81
39.3 mi
46m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Chase Street
9.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irvington, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi·59 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 9
1.9 mi·5 min·North Broadway
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left
184 ft·17 sec
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
26 ft·7 sec
5
Turn left
184 ft·17 sec
6
Turn right onto US 9
385 ft·10 sec·South Broadway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 87 North, I 287 West: Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
8
Merge onto I 87; I 287
7.5 mi·10 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
12
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
13
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
18
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
19
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
20
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
22
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
23
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
24
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
25
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
26
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
27
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
28
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
29
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
30
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
32
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
33
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
34
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
35
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
36
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
38
Merge onto I 90
100 mi·1 hr 55 min·New York State Thruway
39
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Exit 50Toward I 290: Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 290
1.8 mi·2 min·Youngmann Expressway
41
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Turn left onto NY 324
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
43
Turn left onto NY 263
469 ft·13 sec·Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
44
Arrive at destination
NY 263
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially since the turn-heavy local roads require more active concentration than wide-open highways. With a fuel budget of $62, you should monitor your gauge during the longer stretches to avoid unnecessary anxiety. Keep in mind that the local road sections can be slower than expected, so factor in a little extra time for traffic. Since this is a one-day trip, your flexibility is a major advantage, allowing you to adjust your pace based on how you feel behind the wheel.
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 181.2 miles from Irvington, NY, or about 3h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 80 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.2 miles or 3h 48m 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 29m
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 Irvington, 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 Irvington, NY
This is one driving day of about 362.3 miles and 7h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Irvington, 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 Long Mountain Parkway for about 107.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 181.2 mi from Irvington, NY
· 3h 48m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 237.4
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 262.4
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.64 one way
$119.27 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$64.49
$128.97
premium
$4.92
$70.22
$140.44
diesel
$5.61
$79.99
$159.98
Estimated Tolls: $5.36
New York State Thruway
(107.1 mi)$5.36
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
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.7
1
$38.04
$17.39
Efficient EV
90.6
1
$31.70
$14.49
EV Truck/SUV
144.9
1
$50.72
$23.19
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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 16, 2026
Origin
Irvington, NY
Morning
in Irvington on Saturday
Local time
8:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amherst, NY
Morning
in Amherst on Saturday
Local time
8:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Union, NY
181 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
1 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 40m 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 Irvington, NY to Amherst, NY covers 362.3 miles and takes about 7h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Mountain Parkway, New York State Thruway, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 181.2 miles from Irvington, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.64 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 362.3 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 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 258.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 258.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Irvington, NY and Amherst, NY, road signs point toward New York State Thruway and Albany.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and General Grant National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
