Trip from Saranac Lake, NY to Yonkers, NY

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 58m

Distance

290.6 mi

468 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

18 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 45m ★

6 AM

5h 58m

8 AM

6h 24m

10 AM

6h 7m

12 PM

6h 5m

3 PM

6h 9m

5 PM

6h 23m

8 PM

5h 50m

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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Saranac Lake, NY

Wikimedia Commons

city in Westchester County, New York, United States

Yonkers, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Saranac Lake, NY to Yonkers, NY covers 290.6 miles and takes about 5h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 87, Adirondack Northway, New York State Thruway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.6 miles on I 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.83 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

145.3 miles from Saranac Lake, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 290.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Saranac Lake, NY to Yonkers, NY covers 290.6 miles and takes about 5h 58m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 118.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 142.4 miles in near I 87.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 290.6 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 142.4 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.2 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 281 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

142.4 mi into trip | ~3h in | I 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1E-W Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...

143.2 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in | I 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South: New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 87 South: New York

281 mi into trip | ~5h 44m 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

289.2 mi into trip | ~5h 55m 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

290.5 mi into trip | ~5h 58m 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 Saranac Lake, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York and Buffalo.

Albany

142.4 mi in | ~3h | via I 87

New York

142.4 mi in | ~3h | via I 87

Buffalo

142.4 mi in | ~3h | via I 87

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 87	118.6 mi	2h 17m
Adirondack Northway	103.7 mi	2h 1m
New York State Thruway	20 mi	25m
State Highway 73	18.7 mi	27m
Saw Mill River Parkway	7.8 mi	10m
Cascade Road	5.3 mi	7m
Saranac-Placid Road	4.9 mi	7m
Old Military Road	3.6 mi	6m

Longest stretch: I 87 — 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saranac Lake, NY and Yonkers, NY.

Start on NY 3; NY 86

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Church Street

At end of road, turn left onto NY 86

0.2 mi · 32 sec · River Street

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 86

304 ft · 8 sec · River Street

Turn slight right onto NY 86

1.1 mi · 2 min · Lake Flower Avenue

Continue on NY 86

4.9 mi · 7 min · Saranac-Placid Road

Turn right onto CR 35

3.6 mi · 6 min · Old Military Road

Turn straight onto NY 73

5.3 mi · 7 min · Cascade Road

Continue on NY 73

7.2 mi · 10 min · State Highway 73

Turn straight onto NY 9N; NY 73

1.8 mi · 3 min · State Highway 9N

Continue on NY 73

11 mi · 16 min · State Highway 73

Turn straight onto US 9

2.1 mi · 2 min · US 9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 87 South

Merge onto I 87

104 mi · 2 hr 1 min · Adirondack Northway

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87

0.3 mi · 31 sec · I 87

Exit 1E-W Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 87

0.5 mi · 51 sec · I 87

Exit 1W Toward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87

118 mi · 2 hr 16 min · I 87

Toward I 87 South: New York Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 87

19 mi · 24 min · New York State Thruway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87

1.0 mi · 1 min · New York State Thruway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 7A Toward Saw Mill River Parkway South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto Saw Mill River Parkway

7.8 mi · 10 min · Saw Mill River Parkway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec

Exit 5 Toward West Yonkers Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight right onto Yonkers Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Yonkers Avenue

Continue on Nepperhan Avenue

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Nepperhan Avenue

Turn sharp left onto US 9; NY 9A

229 ft · 5 sec · South Broadway

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

US 9; NY 9A

Trip Plan

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 145.3 miles from Saranac Lake, NY, or about 3h 4m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 64 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 145.3 miles or 3h 4m 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 52m

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 Saranac Lake, 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 Saranac Lake, NY

This is one driving day of about 290.6 miles and 5h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Saranac Lake, 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 87 for about 118.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 145.3 mi from Saranac Lake, NY · 3h 4m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hudson, NY

145 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

Ticonderoga, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Niskayuna, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 145.3 miles from Saranac Lake, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.6 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

National Memorial

Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 290.6

View on nps.gov

General Grant National Memorial

National Memorial

The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free near mile 290.6

View on nps.gov

Saratoga National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 120.2

View on nps.gov

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 290.6

View on nps.gov

African Burial Ground National Monument

National Monument

The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...

16 mi from route ~40 min detour Free near mile 290.6

View on nps.gov

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 290.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.83 one way

$95.67 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$51.72	$103.45
premium	$4.92	$56.32	$112.65
diesel	$5.61	$64.16	$128.32

Estimated Tolls: $1.00

New York State Thruway (20 mi) $1.00

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

$48

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

18 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

ChargePoint Charging Station

Newburgh, New York

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Guilderland, New York

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Rivian Adventure Network

Newburgh, New York

Rivian

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Central Valley, New York

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Newburgh, New York

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Central Valley, New York

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Monroe, New York

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Electrify America Charging Station

Newburgh, New York

Electrify America

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 5 EV Connect: 3 Tesla: 3 Other: 2 Rivian: 1 Electrify America: 1 EVgo: 1 Blink: 1 ViaLynk: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	87.2	1	$30.51	$13.95
Efficient EV	72.7	0	$25.43	$11.62
EV Truck/SUV	116.2	1	$40.68	$18.60

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Saranac Lake, NY

Afternoon in Saranac Lake on Thursday

Local time

3:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

34°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Yonkers, NY

Afternoon in Yonkers on Thursday

Local time

3:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 6 to 12 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

35°F

Hudson, NY

145 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

56 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 58m 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 Saranac Lake, NY to Yonkers, NY covers 290.6 miles and takes about 5h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 87, Adirondack Northway, New York State Thruway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 145.3 miles from Saranac Lake, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.83 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.

Between Saranac Lake, NY and Yonkers, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York and Buffalo.

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Trip from Saranac Lake, NY to Yonkers, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Yonkers, NY

National Parks Near This Route

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

Saratoga National Historical Park

Stonewall National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Saranac Lake, NY

Yonkers, NY

Same local time

56 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 58m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Continue From Yonkers, NY

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