Origin
Southold, NY
Evening in Southold on Monday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southold, NY to Tonawanda, NY
Drive Time
10h 5m
Distance
470.5 mi
757 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 56m
★
6 AM
10h 5m
8 AM
10h 23m
10 AM
10h 11m
12 PM
10h 10m
3 PM
10h 12m
5 PM
10h 22m
8 PM
10h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southold, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Tonawanda, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Southold, NY to Tonawanda, NY covers 470.5 miles and takes about 10h 5m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.6 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $76.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
235.2 miles from Southold, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 10h 5m drive with frequent turns across 470.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 70 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 99.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 48 significant decision points across 470.5 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 22.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 48 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Turn left toward I 495 West: New York
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 495 West: New York
8
78.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
78.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
82.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
8
94.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Towns Along This Route
Between Southold, NY and Tonawanda, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
Kennedy Airport
78.4 mi in
|
~1h 52m
Cross Island Parkway North
78.7 mi in
|
~1h 53m
Bronx
82.1 mi in
|
~1h 58m
New England
82.1 mi in
|
~1h 58m
Upper Level
91.8 mi in
|
~2h 12m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
94.3 mi in
|
~2h 16m
Hackensack
96.9 mi in
|
~2h 19m
Albany
269.6 mi in
|
~5h 46m
|
via I 81
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 99.6 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 81 | 97.3 mi | 1h 55m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| Long Island Expressway | 55.4 mi | 1h 14m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| Clinton Street | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| East Lake Road | 9.9 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southold, NY and Tonawanda, NY.
1
Start on Youngs Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Youngs Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 48; Truck NY 25
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Middle Road
3
Continue on CR 48; Truck NY 25
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Sound Avenue
4
Turn left onto CR 43
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Northville Turnpike
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR 73
138 ft
·
12 sec
·
Roanoke Avenue
6
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
7
Turn left onto Griffing Avenue
149 ft
·
6 sec
·
Griffing Avenue
8
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Court Street
9
Continue on CR 94A
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Drive Spur
10
Merge onto CR 94
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Nugent Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on CR 94
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Edwards Avenue
12
Turn left
291 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
this road
Toward I 495 West: New York
14
Merge onto I 495
55 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
20
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
23
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
24
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 80
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
34
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
35
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
36
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi
·
43 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
39
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 52
Toward NY 13: Cortland
40
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
41
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Avenue
42
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
43
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
44
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Clinton Street
45
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
46
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
47
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
48
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Lake Street
49
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Genesee Street
50
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Fulton Street
51
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial West
52
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Chase Street
Use the left lane.
53
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
54
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 318
55
Continue on NY 318
319 ft
·
10 sec
·
NY 318
Use the right lane.
56
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
State Route 414
Use the right lane.
57
Continue on NY 414
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
58
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Use the left lane.
59
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the straight / right lanes.
60
Merge onto I 90
100 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
New York State Thruway
61
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
62
Continue on I 290
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
63
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 2
Toward NY 425: Colvin Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
64
Turn right onto NY 425
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Twin Cities Memorial Highway
65
Turn left onto Fillmore Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Fillmore Avenue
66
Turn left onto Fremont Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Fremont Street
67
Turn right onto Young Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Young Street
68
Continue on Broad Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Broad Street
69
Turn right onto NY 265
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Seymour Street
70
Arrive at destination
NY 265
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 235.2 miles from Southold, NY, or about 5h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 104 miles or 2h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 235.2 miles or 5h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 235.2 miles or 5h 5m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tonawanda, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southold, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Southold, NY
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tonawanda, NY
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Southold, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 235.2 mi from Southold, NY · 5h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
235 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Ramapo, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
235 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ramapo, NY after about 235 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 104 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 235.2 miles from Southold, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 235 miles or 5 hours on the road.
Arriving in Tonawanda, NY
The final approach into Tonawanda, 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 Tonawanda, NY.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Tonawanda, NY with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.60 one way
$153.19 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
165 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $83.00 | $166.01 |
| premium | $4.88 | $90.45 | $180.90 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $104.53 | $209.06 |
Estimated Tolls: $28.05
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(99.6 mi)
$4.98
New Jersey Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.28
Northville Turnpike
(3.4 mi)
$0.24
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
$77
Tolls
$28
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$235–$345
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 164.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 141.2 | 1 | $49.40 | $22.58 |
| Efficient EV | 117.6 | 1 | $41.17 | $18.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 188.2 | 2 | $65.87 | $30.11 |
Gas CO2
165 kg
EV CO2
55 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.
Destination
Tonawanda, NY
Evening in Tonawanda on Monday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 15 to 20 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:26AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Along the Route
40°F
Ramapo, NY
235 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
5 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
10h 5m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Southold, NY to Tonawanda, NY covers 470.5 miles and takes about 10h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 235 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 235.2 miles from Southold, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $76.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 48 significant decision points across 470.5 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 22.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Southold, NY and Tonawanda, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
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