The drive from Stony Brook, NY to Amherst, NY covers 425.4 miles and takes about 9h 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 $70.02 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
212.7 miles from Stony Brook, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
9h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 9h drive with frequent turns across 425.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 65 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 39.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 42 significant decision points across 425.4 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 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 42 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
39.1 mi into trip|~57m 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
39.4 mi into trip|~57m 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
42.8 mi into trip|~1h 3m 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
55 mi into trip|~1h 21m 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
8
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stony Brook, NY and Amherst, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
Kennedy Airport
39.1 mi in|~57m
Cross Island Parkway North
39.4 mi in|~57m
Bronx
42.8 mi in|~1h 3m
New England
42.8 mi in|~1h 3m
Upper Level
52.4 mi in|~1h 17m|via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
55 mi in|~1h 21m
Hackensack
57.6 mi in|~1h 24m
Albany
230.3 mi in|~4h 51m|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
28.3 mi
38m
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 Stony Brook, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on Cedar Street
66 ft·2 sec·Cedar Street
2
Turn left onto Christian Avenue
0.5 mi·51 sec·Christian Avenue
3
Continue on Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Continue on NY 25A
0.7 mi·1 min·North Country Road
5
Continue on NY 25A
0.9 mi·1 min·Smithtown-Port Jefferson Road
6
Turn slight left onto NY 25A
3.4 mi·5 min·North Country Road
7
Continue on NY 111
1.3 mi·1 min·Hauppauge Road
8
Continue on NY 111
0.9 mi·1 min·Hauppauge Boulevard
9
At end of road, turn right onto NY 111; CR 76
421 ft·8 sec·Townline Road
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 111
1.5 mi·2 min·Wheeler Road
11
Turn right onto LIE North Service Road
0.5 mi·53 sec·LIE North Service Road
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
13
Merge onto I 495
28 mi·38 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 31N-SToward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 31NToward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi·4 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 33Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New EnglandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
19
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
22
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
23
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
24
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.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
33
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
34
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
35
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
38
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
39
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
40
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
41
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
42
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
43
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
44
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
45
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
46
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
47
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
48
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
49
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
50
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
51
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
52
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
53
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
54
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
55
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
56
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
57
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
58
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
59
Merge onto I 90
100 mi·1 hr 55 min·New York State Thruway
60
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Exit 50Toward I 290: Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Continue on I 290
1.8 mi·2 min·Youngmann Expressway
62
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
63
Turn left onto NY 324
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
64
Turn left onto NY 263
469 ft·13 sec·Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
65
Arrive at destination
NY 263
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 212.7 miles from Stony Brook, NY, or about 4h 30m 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 94 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 212.7 miles or 4h 30m 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 212.7 miles or 4h 30m
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 7h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stony Brook, 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 Stony Brook, NY
Aim for roughly 213 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amherst, NY
Aim for roughly 213 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Stony Brook, 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 212.7 mi from Stony Brook, NY
· 4h 30m into the drive
The midpoint is around 212.7 miles from Stony Brook, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 213 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
Arriving in Amherst, NY
The final approach into Amherst, 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 Amherst, NY.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Amherst, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 58.7
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 58.7
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 322.7
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 58.7
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 58.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.02 one way
$140.05 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg149 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$75.72
$151.44
premium
$4.92
$82.45
$164.90
diesel
$5.61
$93.92
$187.85
Estimated Tolls: $27.81
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
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
$70
Tolls
$28
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$228–$338
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 148.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
127.6
1
$44.67
$20.42
Efficient EV
106.4
1
$37.22
$17.02
EV Truck/SUV
170.2
2
$59.56
$27.23
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Stony Brook, NY
Afternoon
in Stony Brook on Thursday
Local time
2:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amherst, NY
Afternoon
in Amherst on Thursday
Local time
2:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
213 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
1 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
9h 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 Stony Brook, NY to Amherst, NY covers 425.4 miles and takes about 9h 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 213 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 212.7 miles from Stony Brook, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $70.02 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 42 significant decision points across 425.4 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 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Stony Brook, NY and Amherst, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
