Origin
Manhattan, NY
Evening in Manhattan on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manhattan, NY to Amherst, NY
Drive Time
6h 20m
Distance
398.8 mi
642 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 8m
★
6 AM
6h 20m
8 AM
6h 45m
10 AM
6h 29m
12 PM
6h 27m
3 PM
6h 30m
5 PM
6h 44m
8 PM
6h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manhattan, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Amherst, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Manhattan, NY to Amherst, NY covers 398.8 miles and takes about 6h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 86th Street, Columbus Avenue, 9th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $64.92 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
199.4 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 20m drive with frequent turns across 398.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 51 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 86th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 20m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Manhattan, NY to Amherst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 86th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Columbus Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 9th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 41st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Galvin Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 495 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Tunnel | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NJ 3 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West 86th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
86th Street Transverse
2
Continue on West 86th Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
West 86th Street
3
Turn left onto Columbus Avenue
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Columbus Avenue
4
Continue on 9th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue
5
Turn right onto West 41st Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 41st Street
6
Turn left onto Galvin Avenue
262 ft
·
11 sec
·
Galvin Avenue
7
Take the ramp straight toward I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
479 ft
·
12 sec
·
I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
8
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Tunnel
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Lincoln Tunnel
9
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
NJ 3 West: Secaucus
10
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 3 West: Clifton
453 ft
·
7 sec
·
NJ 3 West: Clifton
11
Merge slight left
10 mi
·
12 min
12
Merge slight right
11 mi
·
12 min
13
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
14
Continue on Interstate 80 West
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 80 West
15
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
16
Merge slight left onto Christopher Columbus Highway
45 mi
·
52 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
18
Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 380 North: Scranton
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 380 North: Scranton
20
Continue straight
28 mi
·
30 min
21
Merge slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
22
Keep slight right to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
23
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse
37 mi
·
43 min
·
I 81 North: Syracuse
24
Take the exit slight right toward NY 13: Cortland
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
NY 13: Cortland
25
Turn right onto Clinton Avenue
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
26
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Avenue
27
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
28
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
29
Turn left onto Clinton Street
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Clinton Street
30
Continue on East Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
31
Continue on State Route 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
32
Continue on East Lake Road
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
33
Continue on East Lake Street
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Lake Street
34
Turn left onto East Genesee Street
7.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Genesee Street
35
Turn right onto North Fulton Street
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Fulton Street
36
Turn left onto Arterial West
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial West
37
Continue on Chase Street
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Chase Street
38
Continue on Auburn Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
39
Turn right
4.1 mi
·
7 min
40
Continue straight
318 ft
·
10 sec
41
Turn right onto State Route 414
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
State Route 414
42
Continue on Ridge Road
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Road
43
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
44
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Buffalo
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 West: Buffalo
45
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
100 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
New York State Thruway
46
Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Niagara Falls
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 290: Niagara Falls
47
Continue on Youngmann Expressway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
48
Take the exit slight right toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
49
Turn left onto Sheridan Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheridan Drive
50
Turn left onto Millersport Highway
469 ft
·
14 sec
·
Millersport Highway
51
Arrive at your destination
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 199.4 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
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 88 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 199.4 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 23m
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 Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 398.8 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Manhattan, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 199.4 mi from Manhattan, NY · 3h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
199 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 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 199.4 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$64.92 one way
$129.85 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
140 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $70.36 | $140.71 |
| premium | $4.88 | $76.67 | $153.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $88.60 | $177.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
New York State Thruway
$0.00
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
$65
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 119.6 | 1 | $41.87 | $19.14 |
| Efficient EV | 99.7 | 1 | $34.89 | $15.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 159.5 | 1 | $55.83 | $25.52 |
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Destination
Amherst, NY
Evening in Amherst on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
3 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
6h 20m 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 Manhattan, NY to Amherst, NY covers 398.8 miles and takes about 6h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 86th Street, Columbus Avenue, 9th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 199.4 miles from Manhattan, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $64.92 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 20m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Manhattan, NY to Amherst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Manhattan, NY to Amherst, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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