Trip from New York City, NY to Penn Yan, NY

Drive Time

5h 54m

Distance

284.3 mi

457 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 42m ★

6 AM

5h 55m

8 AM

6h 21m

10 AM

6h 4m

12 PM

6h 1m

3 PM

6h 5m

5 PM

6h 20m

8 PM

5h 47m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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New York City, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

incorporated village in Yates County, New York, United States

Penn Yan, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Driving from New York City to Penn Yan covers a distance of 284.3 miles, typically taking about 5 hours and 54 minutes. Because this is a highway-focused route, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day, though it requires a steady pace to manage the travel time. You should budget approximately $45 for fuel to cover the trip. Since both your start and end points are located within New York, you will remain in the Northeast region for the duration of your travel. It is a straightforward transit that moves you from the urban density of the city toward the more relaxed setting of the Finger Lakes area. Planning for one scheduled stop will help keep you refreshed as you transition across the state.

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

142.1 miles from New York City, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a drive defined by efficient interstate travel, as 61% of this route consists of highway driving. You will navigate via I-86, I-81, and the Christopher Columbus Highway, which helps maintain a consistent flow across the state. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 60.9 miles on I-86, providing a good rhythm for long-distance cruising. While the journey begins with the fast-paced nature of major interstates, the road character shifts as you move toward your destination. You will find this to be a practical, utilitarian drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding secondary roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 41 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 60.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

1,815 ft 34 ft

Total Climb

3,596 ft

Total Descent

2,891 ft

Highest Point

1,815 ft

~94.8 mi in

Elevation Range

1,781 ft

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 0.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 284.3 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles (NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 29 key points

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

0.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey

3 mi into trip | ~8m in | NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct toward NJ 139 West: Pulaski Skyway, Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NJ 139 West: Pulaski Skyway, Kennedy Bou...

4.2 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward US 1-9 North: Secausus

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 1-9 North: Secausus

4.3 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue

Turn right onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

30.3 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap

Towns Along This Route

Between New York City, NY and Penn Yan, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Cr 64: Watkins Glen.

Del Water Gap

28.5 mi in | ~39m

Mahwah

28.8 mi in | ~39m | via I 80W

Cr 64: Watkins Glen

239.9 mi in | ~4h 51m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 86	60.9 mi	1h 11m
I 81	58.1 mi	1h 9m
Christopher Columbus Highway	44.6 mi	52m
I 380	27.7 mi	30m
North Madison Avenue	21.8 mi	29m
Keystone Shortway	17.3 mi	24m
Watkins Road	11.6 mi	15m
NJ 3	10.9 mi	13m

Longest stretch: I 86 — 60.9 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Penn Yan, NY.

Start on Broadway

79 ft · 7 sec · Broadway

Turn right onto Chambers Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Chambers Street

Turn right onto Church Street

215 ft · 16 sec · Church Street

Turn left onto Reade Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Reade Street

Turn right onto Hudson Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Hudson Street

Keep slight right at fork onto Hudson Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Hudson Street

Take the exit

406 ft · 14 sec

Toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 78

1.8 mi · 3 min · Holland Tunnel

Continue on I 78

0.4 mi · 1 min · 14th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139

0.3 mi · 24 sec · 14th Street Viaduct

Toward NJ 139 West: Pulaski Skyway, Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City

Continue on NJ 139

0.8 mi · 1 min · NJ 139 Lower Level

Continue on NJ 139

406 ft · 7 sec · Pulaski Skyway

Take the exit

420 ft · 14 sec

Toward US 1-9 North: Secausus Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto US 1; US 9

2.6 mi · 3 min · Tonnelle Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn straight onto NJ 3

11 mi · 13 min · NJ 3

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 46

11 mi · 12 min · US 46

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap

Continue on I 80W

1.6 mi · 1 min · Interstate 80 West

Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 21 sec

Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 80

45 mi · 52 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 left at fork onto I 86; NY 17

61 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 86; NY 17

Toward I 86: Corning

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec

Exit 52A Toward NY 14 North, CR 64: Watkins Glen

Turn left onto CR 64

0.1 mi · 9 sec · County Road 64

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec

Merge onto NY 14

1.4 mi · 1 min · Westinghouse Road

At end of road, turn left onto NY 14

5.6 mi · 7 min · Watkins Road

Continue on NY 14

1.5 mi · 3 min · Main Street

Continue on NY 14

6.0 mi · 7 min · Watkins Road

Continue on NY 14

2.3 mi · 4 min · South Franklin Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on NY 14

385 ft · 5 sec · Lake Shore Drive

Continue on NY 14

22 mi · 29 min · North Madison Avenue

Turn left onto NY 54

4.0 mi · 5 min · State Highway 54

Continue on NY 54

0.9 mi · 2 min · Clinton Street

Turn left onto NY 54

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Main Street

Turn right onto NY 54

54 ft · 0 sec · Elm Street

Arrive at destination

NY 54

Trip Plan

For the best experience, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion near New York City. Since the route spans nearly six hours, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel; the $45 fuel estimate is a baseline, so monitor your tank as you progress through the longer interstate segments. Given the highway-heavy nature of the trip, keep a close watch on your speed and stay alert during the 60.9-mile stretch on I-86 where monotony can set in. Because the total duration is just under six hours, you have the flexibility to reach Penn Yan by late afternoon if you leave at a reasonable hour. Utilize the major interchanges on I-81 to time your break effectively.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 142.1 miles from New York City, NY, or about 2h 55m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 142.1 miles or 2h 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 43m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving New York City, 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 New York City, NY

This is one driving day of about 284.3 miles and 5h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from New York City, 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.

The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 60.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 142.1 mi from New York City, NY · 2h 55m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cortland, NY

142 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cortland, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.1 miles from New York City, 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 60.9 miles.

Arriving in Penn Yan, NY

The final approach into Penn Yan, 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 Penn Yan, 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

$46.28 one way

$92.57 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$50.16	$100.31
premium	$4.88	$54.65	$109.31
diesel	$5.64	$63.16	$126.32

Estimated Tolls: $16.00

Holland Tunnel $16.00

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

$46

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	85.3	1	$29.85	$13.65
Efficient EV	71.1	0	$24.88	$11.37
EV Truck/SUV	113.7	1	$39.80	$18.20

Gas CO2

99 kg

EV CO2

33 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 data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

New York City, NY

Afternoon in New York City on Monday

Local time

3:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Partly Sunny

SW 15 to 22 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 12:55AM EDT until April 13 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:22AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Destination

Penn Yan, NY

Afternoon in Penn Yan on Monday

Local time

3:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°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

23 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

5h 54m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from New York City, NY to Penn Yan, NY covers 284.3 miles and takes about 5h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 86, I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 142.1 miles from New York City, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.28 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

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.

Between New York City, NY and Penn Yan, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Cr 64: Watkins Glen.

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 34 ft to 1,815 ft elevation with about 3,596 ft of total climbing.

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278.9 mi 5h 54m

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Trip from New York City, NY to Penn Yan, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Penn Yan, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

New York City, NY

Penn Yan, NY

Same local time

23 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 54m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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