Origin
Staten Island, NY
Morning in Staten Island on Monday
Local time
9:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Staten Island, NY to Tonawanda, NY
Drive Time
8h 11m
Distance
379.7 mi
611 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 4m
★
6 AM
8h 12m
8 AM
8h 28m
10 AM
8h 17m
12 PM
8h 16m
3 PM
8h 18m
5 PM
8h 27m
8 PM
8h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tonawanda, NY
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Staten Island, NY to Tonawanda, NY covers 379.7 miles and takes about 8h 11m 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 $61.81 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
189.8 miles from Staten Island, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 11m drive with frequent turns across 379.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 75 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 9 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 54 significant decision points across 379.7 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 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 54 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth
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 3B; 3C
Toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth
8
9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B
Toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue
7
19.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 48
Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
7
29.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 287 North: Mahwah
8
30.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
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 39
Toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
Towns Along This Route
Between Staten Island, NY and Tonawanda, NY, road signs point toward Morristown, Whippany and Albany.
Morristown
19.8 mi in
|
~38m
Whippany
30.9 mi in
|
~52m
Albany
178.8 mi in
|
~3h 53m
|
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 | 29 mi | 34m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| NJ 10 | 12.8 mi | 18m |
| 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 Staten Island, NY and Tonawanda, NY.
1
Start on Croft Court
147 ft
·
13 sec
·
Croft Court
2
Turn left onto Corona Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Corona Avenue
3
Continue on Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cotter Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
284 ft
·
13 sec
·
Clarke Avenue
5
Turn right onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Kensico Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto Richmond Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Richmond Road
7
Continue on Richmond Road
447 ft
·
14 sec
·
Richmond Road
8
Continue on Rockland Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Rockland Avenue
9
Turn right onto Brielle Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Brielle Avenue
10
Turn left onto Bradley Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bradley Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto North Gannon Avenue
364 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Gannon Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 278 West: Staten Island Expressway, Goethals Bridge, Elizabeth
13
Merge onto I 278
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Staten Island Expressway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 278
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Goethals Bridge
16
Take the exit
150 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 3B; 3C
Toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 3B
Toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue
18
Turn left onto NJ 439
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Brunswick Avenue
19
Turn right onto NJ 439
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Bayway
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto CR 623
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
South Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 27
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
22
Turn left onto CR 628
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 509
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Chestnut Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Turn right onto Paine Avenue
367 ft
·
12 sec
·
Paine Avenue
25
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 78 West
26
Merge onto I 78
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 48
Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
28
Continue on NJ 24
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
NJ 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 287 North: Mahwah
Use the slight right lane.
30
Merge onto I 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 287
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 39
Toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
Use the slight right lane.
32
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 10 West: Dover
Use the slight left lane.
33
Continue on NJ 10
13 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Continue on US 46
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
35
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 80 West
36
Merge onto I 80
29 mi
·
34 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
39
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
40
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
41
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
43
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi
·
43 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
44
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 52
Toward NY 13: Cortland
45
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
46
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Avenue
47
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
48
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
49
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Clinton Street
50
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
51
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
52
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
53
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Lake Street
54
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Genesee Street
55
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Fulton Street
56
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial West
57
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Chase Street
Use the left lane.
58
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
59
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 318
60
Continue on NY 318
319 ft
·
10 sec
·
NY 318
Use the right lane.
61
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
State Route 414
Use the right lane.
62
Continue on NY 414
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
63
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Use the left lane.
64
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the straight / right lanes.
65
Merge onto I 90
100 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
New York State Thruway
66
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
67
Continue on I 290
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
68
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 2
Toward NY 425: Colvin Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
69
Turn right onto NY 425
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Twin Cities Memorial Highway
70
Turn left onto Fillmore Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Fillmore Avenue
71
Turn left onto Fremont Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Fremont Street
72
Turn right onto Young Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Young Street
73
Continue on Broad Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Broad Street
74
Turn right onto NY 265
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Seymour Street
75
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 189.8 miles from Staten Island, NY, or about 4h 6m 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 84 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.8 miles or 4h 6m 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 189.8 miles or 4h 6m
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 6h 57m
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 Staten Island, 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 Staten Island, NY
Aim for roughly 190 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tonawanda, NY
Aim for roughly 190 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Staten Island, 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 189.8 mi from Staten Island, NY · 4h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
190 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 Syracuse, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
190 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Syracuse, NY after about 190 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 189.8 miles from Staten Island, 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 190 miles or 4.1 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
$61.81 one way
$123.63 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $66.99 | $133.97 |
| premium | $4.88 | $73.00 | $145.99 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $84.36 | $168.71 |
Estimated Tolls: $20.98
Goethals Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(99.6 mi)
$4.98
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
$62
Tolls
$21
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$213–$323
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.9 | 1 | $39.87 | $18.23 |
| Efficient EV | 94.9 | 1 | $33.22 | $15.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151.9 | 1 | $53.16 | $24.30 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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
Morning in Tonawanda on Monday
Local time
9:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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.
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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 11m 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 Staten Island, NY to Tonawanda, NY covers 379.7 miles and takes about 8h 11m 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 190 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 189.8 miles from Staten Island, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.81 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 54 significant decision points across 379.7 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 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Staten Island, NY and Tonawanda, NY, road signs point toward Morristown, Whippany and Albany.
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