Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 19m
Distance
348.6 mi
561 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Hempstead, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New Hempstead to Amherst is 348.6 miles and takes about 7h 19m via Long Mountain Parkway and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a manageable, single-day journey, mostly on highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning. You'll encounter a mixed driving profile, so be prepared for varied road conditions and speeds. Consider this route for its straightforward path and reasonable travel time.
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
174.3 miles from New Hempstead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 35m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Mountain Parkway | 107.6 mi | 2h 15m |
| New York State Thruway | 99.6 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 81 | 39.3 mi | 46m |
| NY 17 | 33.7 mi | 40m |
| Clinton Street | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 9.9 mi | 10m |
| East Lake Road | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Chase Street | 9.8 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Hempstead, NY and Amherst, NY.
Start on NY 45
Turn right onto Concklin Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn right onto NY 13
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
Continue on Albany Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
Turn left onto NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Turn left onto US 20
Turn right onto US 20
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
Continue on US 20; NY 5
Turn right onto NY 318
Continue on NY 318
Turn right onto NY 414
Continue on NY 414
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on I 290
Take the exit
Turn left onto NY 324
Turn left onto NY 263
Arrive at destination
Starting your 348.6-mile drive from New Hempstead early in the morning is advisable to make the most of the daylight and the estimated 7h 19m travel time. With only 2 planned stops, you can be efficient, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. Ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on this section, as finding services might be less frequent. The $57 fuel cost is a helpful estimate, so budget accordingly and keep an eye on your gauge, especially during that extended highway segment.
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.
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 77 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.3 miles or 3h 35m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving New Hempstead, 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 New Hempstead, NY
This is one driving day of about 348.6 miles and 7h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
174 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.
A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 184.7 miles from New Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 347.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$57.38 one way
$114.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $62.05 | $124.10 |
| premium | $4.92 | $67.57 | $135.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.97 | $153.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.98
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
$57
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.6 | 1 | $36.60 | $16.73 |
| Efficient EV | 87.2 | 0 | $30.50 | $13.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.4 | 1 | $48.80 | $22.31 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in New Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
1:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Amherst on Saturday
Local time
1:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms
53°F
Union, NY
174 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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National Monument
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 58% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Long Mountain Parkway, New York State Thruway, and I 81, providing a blend of faster travel and potentially more varied road conditions. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway, so plan for a significant period of driving before a break is necessary. Expect the road character to shift as you transition between these different thoroughfares, requiring you to adapt your driving style accordingly.
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 11.8 miles in.
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 24 significant decision points across 348.6 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 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 245 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from New Hempstead, NY to Amherst, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Albany
Amherst is a town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 19m. Total distance: 348.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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