Origin
Painted Post, NY
Evening in Painted Post on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Painted Post, NY to Yonkers, NY
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
5h 13m
Distance
254.1 mi
409 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 0m
★
6 AM
5h 14m
8 AM
5h 41m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 25m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Painted Post, NY
Douglas Schneiders
Yonkers, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 254.1-mile drive from Painted Post, NY, to Yonkers, NY, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 13 minutes. Primarily following I-86 and the Palisades Interstate Parkway, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the journey on major roadways. With an estimated fuel cost of $42, it's an economical option for a quick trip between two points within New York. The drive offers a straightforward path, making it a practical choice for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
127 miles from Painted Post, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 254.1-mile journey, with 94% of the drive utilizing major expressways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I-86, also known as the Southern Tier Expressway, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of 129.9 miles. While the route is efficient, the character is largely that of a functional interstate drive designed for speed and distance. As you approach Yonkers, the Palisades Interstate Parkway will offer a change in scenery and road style, though the overall feel remains geared towards covering ground.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 129.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 81.1 miles in near I 86; NY 17.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 254.1 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 81.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
81.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New York
8
233.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, W...
7
244.5 mi into trip
|
~5h in
Take the exit toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
7
252.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 11m in
Take the exit toward West Yonkers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
7
254 mi into trip
|
~5h 13m in
|
US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A / South Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Painted Post, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
New York
81.1 mi in
|
~1h 37m
|
via I 86; NY 17
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
218.2 mi in
|
~4h 26m
White Plains
233.9 mi in
|
~4h 45m
New York State Thruway South
233.9 mi in
|
~4h 45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 129.9 mi | 2h 40m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 79.7 mi | 1h 33m |
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| New York State Thruway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| US 6 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| West High Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Yonkers Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Painted Post, NY and Yonkers, NY.
1
Start on this road
135 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Rand Avenue
287 ft
·
13 sec
·
Rand Avenue
3
Turn right onto West High Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
West High Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Steuben Street
80 ft
·
6 sec
·
Steuben Street
5
Turn right onto NY 415
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
West High Street
6
Continue on NY 415
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Pulteney Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
8
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
80 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
130 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
US 6
Exit 130A
Toward US 6: Bear Mountain
11
Enter roundabout
346 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
12
Continue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 18
Toward Palisades Interstate Parkway South
13
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9E
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City, White Plains, New York State Thruway South
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 87; I 287
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
New York State Thruway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 7A
Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward West Yonkers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Yonkers Avenue
21
Continue on Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Nepperhan Avenue
22
Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A
229 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
US 9; NY 9A
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 13-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Painted Post to avoid potential traffic closer to Yonkers. With only one recommended stop and a 94% highway share, you can plan your breaks strategically. The longest stretch without a major change is 129.9 miles on I-86, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment. The $42 fuel cost is an estimate, so keeping an eye on your gauge is always wise, especially as you transition to the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
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 127 miles from Painted Post, NY, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127 miles or 2h 33m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yonkers, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Painted Post, 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 Painted Post, NY
This is one driving day of about 254.1 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Painted Post, 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 129.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127 mi from Painted Post, NY · 2h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127 miles from Painted Post, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.9 miles.
Arriving in Yonkers, NY
The final approach into Yonkers, 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 Yonkers, NY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.83 one way
$83.65 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $45.23 | $90.46 |
| premium | $4.92 | $49.25 | $98.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.10 | $112.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
New York State Thruway
(10.2 mi)
$0.51
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
$42
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.2 | 0 | $26.68 | $12.20 |
| Efficient EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.23 | $10.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.6 | 1 | $35.57 | $16.26 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Yonkers, NY
Evening in Yonkers on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
18 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
5h 13m 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 Painted Post, NY to Yonkers, NY covers 254.1 miles and takes about 5h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 86, Southern Tier Expressway, Palisades Interstate Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127 miles from Painted Post, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.83 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 254.1 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 81.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Painted Post, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South, White Plains and New York State Thruway South.
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