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Trip from Syracuse, NY to Elma, NY

Drive Time

2h 57m

Distance

142.3 mi

229 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 46m ★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Downtown Syracuse, NY, NY

Syracuse, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Downtown Elma, NY, NY

Elma, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

The drive from Syracuse, NY to Elma, NY covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 57m 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, I 690, Bowen Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 122.1 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.17 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

71.2 miles from Syracuse, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 57m drive with frequent turns across 142.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 122.1 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 0.1 miles in near East Washington Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 142.3 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 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 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.
6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 690 West: Baldwinsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 690 West: Baldwinsville
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
6
132.2 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in

Take the exit toward Clarence Service Area

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Clarence Service Area

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Syracuse, NY to Elma, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Clarence Service Area along the way.

Clarence Service Area

132.2 mi in | ~2h 35m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New York State Thruway 122.1 mi 2h 20m
I 690 7.9 mi 9m
Bowen Road 3.1 mi 5m
Walden Avenue 2.3 mi 3m
Ransom Road 1.9 mi 3m
Cemetery Road 1.8 mi 3m
East Washington Street 0.6 mi 1m
South West Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 122.1 mi, about 2h 20m

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 71.2 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.1 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 71.2 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elma, 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 142.3 miles and 2h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 122.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71.2 mi from Syracuse, NY · 1h 25m into the drive

Downtown Manchester, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Manchester, NY

71 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

Victor, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Manchester, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.2 miles from Syracuse, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.1 miles.

Arriving in Elma, NY

The final approach into Elma, 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 Elma, NY.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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.

Women's Rights National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 39.3
View on nps.gov
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

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...

9 mi from route ~23 min detour Free near mile 29.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.17 one way

$46.33 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $25.10 $50.21
premium $4.88 $27.36 $54.71
diesel $5.64 $31.61 $63.23

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.7 0 $14.94 $6.83
Efficient EV 35.6 0 $12.45 $5.69
EV Truck/SUV 56.9 0 $19.92 $9.11

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Syracuse, NY

Late night in Syracuse on Monday

Local time

4:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elma, NY

Late night in Elma on Monday

Local time

4:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

50°F

Manchester, NY

71 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.

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

14 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

2h 57m 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 Syracuse, NY to Elma, NY covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 690, Bowen Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.2 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 $23.17 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 17 significant decision points across 142.3 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 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Syracuse, NY to Elma, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Clarence Service Area along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Elma, NY to Syracuse, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

142.3 mi 2h 56m

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