This 66.3-mile drive from Syracuse, NY to Ontario, NY is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 34 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes NY 104 and I-690, with a significant portion on State Highway 370, making it a convenient option for those looking for a direct journey within New York. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay. Both the origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the travel environment consistent.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.1 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 66.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience for 78% of this 66.3-mile journey. You'll spend a good amount of time on NY 104, where the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 26.8 miles, offering a consistent pace. The route integrates I-690 and State Highway 370, contributing to its highway-focused profile. While not overly complex, the road will feel predominantly like a well-maintained corridor designed for efficient travel. The drive's character remains largely consistent, minimizing unexpected changes in road type or speed limits.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 104 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 104 and I 690. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Washington Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (South West Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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.
3
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|South West Street
Turn right onto South West Street
Navigation decision point
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
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 690
Merge onto I 690
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
14.6 mi into trip|~18m in|NY 31
Take the exit onto NY 31
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 104
26.8 mi
36m
I 690
7.9 mi
9m
State Highway 370
7.9 mi
10m
West Genesee Road
5.9 mi
8m
NY 690
5.5 mi
6m
Main Street
4.8 mi
9m
State Route 370
3.2 mi
4m
Ridge Road
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
NY 104
— 26.8 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Ontario, 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
Continue on NY 690
5.5 mi·6 min·NY 690
7
Take the exit onto NY 31
0.3 mi·36 sec·NY 31
8
Continue on NY 31; NY 370
5.9 mi·8 min·West Genesee Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on NY 370
1.2 mi·1 min·Main Street
10
Continue on NY 370
1.2 mi·1 min·State Route 370
11
Continue on NY 370
3.6 mi·7 min·Main Street
12
Continue on NY 370
7.9 mi·10 min·State Highway 370
13
Continue on NY 370
2.1 mi·2 min·State Route 370
14
Turn straight onto CR 163
2.2 mi·3 min·Ridge Road
15
Turn left onto NY 104
27 mi·36 min·NY 104
16
Take the exit
465 ft·27 sec
17
Turn straight onto CR 110
0.4 mi·1 min·Furnace Road
18
Turn left onto CR 103
91 ft·2 sec·Ridge Road
19
Arrive at destination
CR 103
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under 1.5 hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You could depart Syracuse anytime, but leaving mid-morning might help you avoid peak rush hour traffic on I-690. Since there are no specified stops and the drive is relatively short, you can easily complete it without needing to plan for extensive breaks. The estimated fuel cost of $11 suggests that refueling before you leave Syracuse should be sufficient. A practical tip: keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from I-690 to NY 104, as this is where the route shifts to its primary highway segment.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.1 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.8 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.1 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ontario, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Syracuse, NY
This is one driving day of about 66.3 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Syracuse, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NY 104 for about 26.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.1 mi from Syracuse, NY
· 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Syracuse, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ontario, NY
The final approach into Ontario, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 27.4
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 43.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.91 one way
$21.83 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$11.80
$23.60
premium
$4.92
$12.85
$25.70
diesel
$5.61
$14.64
$29.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.80
$2.65
EV Truck/SUV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Syracuse, NY
Morning
in Syracuse on Friday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ontario, NY
Morning
in Ontario on Friday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Cato, NY
33 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
1 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
1h 34m 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 Ontario, NY covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 104, I 690, State Highway 370. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.1 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 $10.91 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (South West Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Syracuse, NY to Ontario, 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.
