Origin
Syracuse, NY
Late night in Syracuse on Friday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Syracuse, NY to Windsor, NY
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
86.7 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Syracuse, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Windsor, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
This 86.7-mile drive from Syracuse, NY to Windsor, NY is a straightforward journey, estimated to take about 1 hour and 44 minutes. With 98% of the route on highways, it's an efficient trip perfect for a single day. The estimated fuel cost is around $14, making it an economical option. This route is a highway-focused drive that keeps you moving efficiently through the Northeast region of New York. It's designed for getting from point A to point B without significant detours, making it a practical choice for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.3 miles from Syracuse, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 86.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 86.7-mile route, with 98% of your travel occurring on interstates like I-81 and I-86. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 74.5 miles on I-81, allowing for a consistent pace. This drive-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on fast-moving roads, minimizing time spent navigating local traffic. The character remains largely highway-centric throughout, providing a predictable driving environment.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 74.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 86. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 92 / East Genesee Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 86.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (NY 92 / East Genesee Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NY 92 / East Genesee Street
Turn left onto NY 92 / East Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
76.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17 toward New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward New York
5
85.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward NY 79: Windsor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 79
Toward NY 79: Windsor
5
86.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
CR 28 / Chapel Street
Turn left onto CR 28 / Chapel Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Syracuse, NY to Windsor, NY, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
New York
76.1 mi in
|
~1h 30m
|
via I 86; NY 17
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 74.5 mi | 1h 28m |
| I 86 | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| I-81 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Almond Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chapel Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 74.5 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, NY and Windsor, NY.
1
Start on US 11
10 ft
·
5 sec
·
South State Street
2
Turn left onto NY 92
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Genesee Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Almond Street
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Almond Street
4
Turn slight right
296 ft
·
5 sec
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 81 South
6
Merge onto I 81
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I-81
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
I-81
8
Continue on I 81
73 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 79
Toward NY 79: Windsor
11
Turn left onto NY 79
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn left onto Church Street
308 ft
·
15 sec
·
Church Street
13
Continue on Church Street
281 ft
·
18 sec
·
Church Street
14
Turn left onto CR 28
182 ft
·
3 sec
·
Chapel Street
15
Turn slight right
116 ft
·
5 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive or finding overnight accommodations. The longest stretch on I-81 is 74.5 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or slightly before you hit that long section. Leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon should allow you to avoid the worst of any potential local traffic, though the highway focus minimizes this concern. Consider checking traffic conditions on I-81 before you depart for the smoothest journey.
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 43.3 miles from Syracuse, NY, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.5 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 52m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, 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 86.7 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Syracuse, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 74.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.3 mi from Syracuse, NY · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.3 miles from Syracuse, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.5 miles.
Arriving in Windsor, NY
The final approach into Windsor, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.27 one way
$28.54 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $15.43 | $30.86 |
| premium | $4.92 | $16.80 | $33.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.14 | $38.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26 | 0 | $9.10 | $4.16 |
| Efficient EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.14 | $5.55 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
Windsor, NY
Late night in Windsor on Friday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Triangle, NY
43 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
3 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
1h 44m 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 Windsor, NY covers 86.7 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, I 86, I-81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.3 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 $14.27 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 86.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (NY 92 / East Genesee Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (I 86; NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Syracuse, NY to Windsor, NY, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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