Drive Time
5h 29m
Distance
358.9 mi
578 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
The drive from Poughkeepsie, NY to Amherst, NY covers 358.9 miles and takes about 5h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Clinton Street, Little Smith Street, Mill Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.65 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
179.4 miles from Poughkeepsie, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 29m drive with frequent turns across 358.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Clinton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Little Smith Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mill Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East-West Arterial | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Columbus Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Church Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mid-Hudson Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 9W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Poughkeepsie, NY and Amherst, NY.
Start on Reservoir Square
Exit the rotary onto South Clinton Street
Turn left onto Little Smith Street
Turn slight right
Merge slight right onto Mill Street
Turn straight onto East-West Arterial
Continue on Columbus Drive
Continue on Church Street
Continue on Mid-Hudson Bridge
Continue straight
Continue straight
Turn left onto Old US 9W
Continue on Kingston-Port Ewen Suspension Bridge
Continue on Wurts Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto McEntee Street
Continue on Broadway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Colonel Chandler Drive
Exit the roundabout onto Colonel Chandler Drive
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Kingston Traffic Circle
Exit the rotary onto I 87: New York State Thruway
Keep slight right
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
Keep slight left to continue on New York State Thruway
Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Continue on Youngmann Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
Turn left onto Sheridan Drive
Turn left onto Millersport Highway
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.4 miles or 2h 44m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Poughkeepsie, 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 Poughkeepsie, NY
This is one driving day of about 358.9 miles and 5h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 179.4 mi from Poughkeepsie, NY · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
179 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 179.4 miles from Poughkeepsie, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$56.65 one way
$113.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $63.32 | $126.63 |
| premium | $4.86 | $68.69 | $137.37 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $66.33 | $132.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.7 | 1 | $37.68 | $17.23 |
| Efficient EV | 89.7 | 1 | $31.40 | $14.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.6 | 1 | $50.25 | $22.97 |
Gas CO2
126 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Poughkeepsie on Saturday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Amherst on Saturday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
53°F
Schenectady, NY
179 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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