Skip to main content

Trip from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 49m

Distance

179.8 mi

289 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 38m ★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 43m

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

Downtown Richland, NY, NY

Richland, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

town in New York, United States

Amherst, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY covers 179.8 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Ridge Road, Route 48, Richland Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.60 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

89.9 miles from Richland, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

About the Cities

Arriving in Amherst, NY

Full guide →

Amherst is a town in the Northtowns of Erie County, New York.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 179.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 49m drive with frequent turns across 179.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Ridge Road 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Ridge Road
Route 48
Richland Road
Maple Avenue
North Jefferson Street
Salina Street
Rome Road
I 81 South

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Ridge Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richland, NY and Amherst, NY.

1

Start on Richland-Orwell Road

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Richland-Orwell Road
2

Turn left onto North Ridge Road

184 ft · 6 sec · North Ridge Road
3

Turn right onto County Route 48

446 ft · 12 sec · County Route 48
4

Continue on Richland Road

3.4 mi · 7 min · Richland Road
5

Continue on Maple Avenue

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Maple Avenue
6

At the end of the road, turn left onto North Jefferson Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · North Jefferson Street
7

Turn left onto Salina Street

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Salina Street
8

Turn left onto Rome Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Rome Road
9

Take the ramp slight right toward I 81 South

0.2 mi · 31 sec · I 81 South
10

Merge slight left

28 mi · 32 min
11

Keep slight right

0.5 mi · 33 sec
12

Continue straight

4.2 mi · 4 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward I 90: Albany, Buffalo

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 90: Albany, Buffalo
14

Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West: Buffalo

0.2 mi · 20 sec · I 90 West: Buffalo
15

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

137 mi · 2 hr 38 min · New York State Thruway
16

Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Niagara Falls

0.4 mi · 37 sec · I 290: Niagara Falls
17

Continue on Youngmann Expressway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Youngmann Expressway
18

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
19

Turn left onto Sheridan Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Drive
20

Turn left onto Millersport Highway

469 ft · 14 sec · Millersport Highway
21

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.9 miles from Richland, NY, or about 1h 24m 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 40 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.9 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 18m

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 Richland, 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 Richland, NY

This is one driving day of about 179.8 miles and 2h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Richland, 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 89.9 mi from Richland, NY · 1h 24m into the drive

city in Cayuga County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Auburn, NY

90 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

Clay, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Auburn, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.9 miles from Richland, 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

$29.60 one way

$59.19 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $32.00 $64.01
premium $4.92 $34.85 $69.70
diesel $5.61 $39.70 $79.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.9 0 $18.88 $8.63
Efficient EV 45 0 $15.73 $7.19
EV Truck/SUV 71.9 0 $25.17 $11.51

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Richland, NY

Evening in Richland on Friday

Local time

6:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amherst, NY

Evening in Amherst on Friday

Local time

6:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

43°F

Auburn, NY

90 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

6 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

2h 49m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY covers 179.8 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Ridge Road, Route 48, Richland Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89.9 miles from Richland, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Richland, NY to Amherst, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Richland, NY or browse trips ending in Amherst, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.