Origin
Sterling, NY
Late night in Sterling on Saturday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling, NY to Syracuse, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
38.4 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sterling to Syracuse is 38.4 miles and takes about 55 minutes via NY 3 and I-690, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short distance and primarily highway focus, this drive is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward connection between your starting point and destination. Consider this route when you need an efficient way to get from Sterling to Syracuse without a significant time commitment.
About the Cities
Arriving in Syracuse, NY
Full guide →Founded 1848
Syracuse is a city in Central New York. With a population of 149,000 in city proper and 662,000 in its metro area (2020), Syracuse is the fifth largest city in the state of New York, and the third largest in Upstate New York.
Top landmarks
- • Oncenter War Memorial Arena — arena in Syracuse, New York
- • Everson Museum of Art — art museum in Syracuse, New York
- • Niagara Mohawk Building — historic commercial building in New York, United States
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 55m. Total distance: 38.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 94% of the journey utilizing major roads like NY 3, State Route 48, and I-690. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of driving on NY 3, covering 11.4 miles. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, as the route prioritizes efficient travel over winding local roads. The character remains largely that of a high-speed transit corridor, making it a predictable and quick passage.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 3 and State Route 48. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 37.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.6 miles (NY 5 / West Genesee Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
37.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown
8
37.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown
5
37.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
NY 5 / West Genesee Street
Turn left onto NY 5 / West Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
38 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
NY 5 / Oswego Boulevard
Turn right onto NY 5 / Oswego Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
38.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 11 / South State Street
Turn right onto US 11 / South State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 3 | 11.4 mi | 17m |
| State Route 48 | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| I 690 | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| NY 690 | 7 mi | 7m |
| West 1st Street South | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 104A | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Genesee Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NY 3
— 11.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling, NY and Syracuse, NY.
1
Start on NY 104A
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 104A
2
Turn right onto NY 3
11 mi
·
17 min
·
NY 3
3
Turn right onto NY 48
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Street South
4
Continue on NY 48
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 48
5
Continue on NY 690
7.0 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 690
6
Continue on I 690
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 690
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Genesee Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on NY 5
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
James Street
11
Turn right onto NY 5
317 ft
·
11 sec
·
Oswego Boulevard
12
Continue on NY 5
524 ft
·
18 sec
·
Erie Boulevard East
13
Turn right onto US 11
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South State Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Arrive at destination
US 11
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.2 mi from Sterling, NY · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Sterling, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Syracuse, NY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Syracuse, NY if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.32 one way
$12.64 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.83 | $13.67 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.44 | $14.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Syracuse, NY
Late night in Syracuse on Saturday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
55m 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 Sterling, NY to Syracuse, NY covers 38.4 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 3, State Route 48, I 690. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.2 miles from Sterling, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.32 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.
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.6 miles (NY 5 / West Genesee Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sterling, NY to Syracuse, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Women's Rights National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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