This 244.8-mile journey from Scarsdale, NY, to Syracuse, NY, is designed for a single day, with an estimated travel time of 5 hours and 3 minutes. The route is heavily focused on highways, with 94% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $40 for this trip. Given its highway-centric nature and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive that doesn't necessitate an overnight stop. This trip keeps you within New York State, making for a simple point-to-point excursion through the Northeast region.
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
122.4 miles from Scarsdale, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 244.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, accounting for 94% of your travel. The main arteries for this trip include Long Mountain Parkway and I-81. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the route offers a smooth progression, making it efficient for covering distance without significant detours or complex local road navigation.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 107.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Mountain Parkway and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 244.8 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 287 West: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 287 West: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Brid...
8
15.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
7
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
7
241.3 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Syracuse
7
243.9 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward Adams Street, Harrison Street
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 Adams Street, Harrison Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scarsdale, NY and Syracuse, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Albany.
Palisades Parkway North
15.7 mi in|~23m
Bear Mountain
15.7 mi in|~23m
New York State Thruway
31.3 mi in|~41m
Albany
173 mi in|~3h 37m|via I 81
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
I 81
70.5 mi
1h 22m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
New York State Thruway
8.9 mi
11m
Cross Westchester Expressway
2.9 mi
3m
Post Road
1.2 mi
2m
Tarrytown Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scarsdale, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on NY 22
1.2 mi·2 min·Post Road
2
Continue on NY 22
0.6 mi·1 min·West Post Road
3
Turn left onto Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.4 mi·59 sec·Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn left onto NY 119
0.3 mi·35 sec·Hamilton Avenue
5
Continue on NY 119
0.8 mi·1 min·Tarrytown Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
317 ft·7 sec
Toward I 287
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 287 West: Governor Mario M. Cuomo BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 287
2.9 mi·3 min·Cross Westchester Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 87; I 287
8.9 mi·11 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
13
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
14
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
66 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: SyracuseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
0.2 mi·17 sec·I 81
Toward SyracuseUse the straight lane.
19
Continue on I-81
0.4 mi·26 sec·I-81
20
Continue on I 81
1.9 mi·2 min·I 81
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Adams Street, Harrison StreetUse the slight right lane.
22
Continue on Almond Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Almond Street
Use the left / slight left / straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto NY 92
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Genesee Street
24
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
10 ft·0 sec·South State Street
25
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Scarsdale to avoid potential traffic, especially as you navigate out of the metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a planned stop is over 100 miles. The relatively short duration means you can easily complete this trip in one day, arriving in Syracuse with plenty of daylight remaining.
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 122.4 miles from Scarsdale, NY, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 54 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.4 miles or 2h 36m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Syracuse, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scarsdale, 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 Scarsdale, NY
This is one driving day of about 244.8 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Scarsdale, 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 Long Mountain Parkway for about 107.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 122.4 mi from Scarsdale, NY
· 2h 36m into the drive
The midpoint is around 122.4 miles from Scarsdale, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Long Mountain Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.6 miles.
Arriving in Syracuse, NY
The final approach into Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, 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...
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...
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 236.3
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...
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...
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.4
0
$25.70
$11.75
Efficient EV
61.2
0
$21.42
$9.79
EV Truck/SUV
97.9
1
$34.27
$15.67
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Scarsdale, NY
Late night
in Scarsdale on Friday
Local time
1:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Late night
in Syracuse on Friday
Local time
1:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
11 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 3m 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 Scarsdale, NY to Syracuse, NY covers 244.8 miles and takes about 5h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Mountain Parkway, I 81, NY 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122.4 miles from Scarsdale, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.30 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 17 significant decision points across 244.8 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Scarsdale, NY and Syracuse, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Albany.
