The drive from Syracuse, NY to Alfred, NY covers 133.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, Southern Tier Expressway, State Highway 54 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.5 miles on New York State Thruway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.9 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 133.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Syracuse, NY to Alfred, NY covers 133.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 45 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 30.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Washington Street.
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 27 significant decision points across 133.8 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 0.1 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 90
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward I 90
8
9.9 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
8
40.5 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
7
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|NY 14 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto NY 14 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Syracuse, NY and Alfred, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Almond and Andover.
Clyde
40.5 mi in|~49m
Almond
126.8 mi in|~2h 47m
Andover
126.8 mi in|~2h 47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
30.5 mi
35m
Southern Tier Expressway
25.7 mi
29m
State Highway 54
19.5 mi
28m
West Lake Road
10.7 mi
12m
East Lake Road
9.8 mi
14m
US 20
8 mi
10m
I 690
7.9 mi
9m
State Route 414
4.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 30.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Alfred, NY.
1
Start on US 11
507 ft·18 sec·South State Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South West Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·South West Street
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 690 West: Baldwinsville
5
Merge onto I 690
7.9 mi·9 min·I 690
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
344 ft·8 sec
Exit 1Toward I 90Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·29 sec·this road
Exit 1Toward I 90
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·18 sec·this road
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·35 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
14
Continue on NY 414
4.3 mi·6 min·State Route 414
15
Turn right onto US 20; NY 5
8.0 mi·10 min·US 20; NY 5
16
Turn right onto NY 14 Truck
464 ft·13 sec·Lake Street
17
Turn left onto NY 14
0.3 mi·21 sec·Exchange Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto NY 14
0.2 mi·21 sec·Seneca Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
At end of road, turn left onto NY 14
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on NY 14
0.8 mi·1 min·Lochland Road
21
Continue on NY 14
11 mi·12 min·West Lake Road
22
Turn slight right onto Spur Road
0.4 mi·31 sec·Spur Road
23
Turn straight
379 ft·8 sec
24
Turn straight onto NY 54
3.6 mi·4 min·State Highway 54
25
Continue on NY 54
0.9 mi·2 min·Clinton Street
26
Turn left onto NY 54
0.2 mi·23 sec·Main Street
27
Turn right onto NY 54
0.1 mi·18 sec·Elm Street
28
Turn left onto NY 14A; NY 54
0.3 mi·28 sec·Liberty Street
29
Turn right onto NY 54
0.7 mi·58 sec·Lake Street
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on NY 54
9.8 mi·14 min·East Lake Road
31
Turn straight onto NY 54
16 mi·23 min·State Highway 54
32
Continue on NY 54
1.0 mi·1 min·Geneva Street
33
Continue on NY 54
0.1 mi·25 sec·Liberty Street
34
Turn right onto NY 415
0.9 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
35
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
36
Merge onto I 86
3.7 mi·4 min·Southern Tier Expressway
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17
22 mi·25 min·Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Exit 33Toward Almond, Andover
39
Turn right onto CR 2
0.2 mi·23 sec·Karr Valley Road
40
Continue on CR 2
0.3 mi·53 sec·Karrdale Street
41
At end of road, turn right onto NY 21
1.8 mi·2 min·North Main Street
42
Continue on NY 21
2.1 mi·3 min·State Route 21
43
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 244
1.4 mi·2 min·State Highway 244
44
Continue on NY 244
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
45
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.9 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.5 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alfred, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, NY
This is one driving day of about 133.8 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Syracuse, 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 New York State Thruway for about 30.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.9 mi from Syracuse, NY
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
9 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 32.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.02 one way
$44.05 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$23.82
$47.63
premium
$4.92
$25.93
$51.87
diesel
$5.61
$29.54
$59.08
Estimated Tolls: $1.52
New York State Thruway
(30.5 mi)$1.52
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
$22
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
29 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Geneva, New York
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Waterloo, New York
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Waterloo, New York
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Waterloo, New York
Tesla
1 DCFC
ViaLynk Charging Station
Geneva, New York
ViaLynk
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Waterloo, New York
Electrify America
1 DCFC
EVolve NY Charging Station
Bath, New York
Other
1 DCFC
PISO EV Charging Station
Bath, New York
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 10
ChargePoint: 9
EV Connect: 4
ViaLynk: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
Tesla: 1
Electrify America: 1
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.05
$6.42
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.71
$5.35
EV Truck/SUV
53.5
0
$18.73
$8.56
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Syracuse, NY
Night
in Syracuse on Thursday
Local time
10:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 6 mph86% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 6:42PM EDT until April 16 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 6:26PM EDT until April 16 at 7:15PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
Alfred, NY
Night
in Alfred on Thursday
Local time
10:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
16 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
2h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Syracuse, NY to Alfred, NY covers 133.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, Southern Tier Expressway, State Highway 54. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.9 miles from Syracuse, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.02 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 133.8 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 0.1 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Syracuse, NY and Alfred, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Almond and Andover.
