Origin
Warwick, NY
Morning in Warwick on Friday
Local time
8:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Warwick, NY to Amherst, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 57m
Distance
328.3 mi
528 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 46m
★
6 AM
6h 57m
8 AM
7h 20m
10 AM
7h 5m
12 PM
7h 3m
3 PM
7h 6m
5 PM
7h 19m
8 PM
6h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Warwick, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 328.3-mile drive from Warwick, NY to Amherst, NY will take you approximately 6 hours and 57 minutes. Primarily using the New York State Thruway and I-81, with a segment of NY 17, this route is feasible as a single-day trip, though a 6-hour and 57-minute drive might benefit from an early start. You can expect a fuel cost of around $54 for this journey. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, offering a mix of travel experiences. Since both your origin and destination are in the Northeast region, you'll be staying within familiar territory throughout this excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
164.1 miles from Warwick, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 25m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 57m. Total distance: 328.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a route with a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction and road type. Only 26% of this drive is on highways, so be prepared for a more varied experience than a pure interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 99.6 miles on the New York State Thruway, providing a period of consistent travel before you transition back to more varied road segments. This driving personality suggests a journey where you'll need to stay engaged with navigation and road conditions.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 40 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 10.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 328.3 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 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 224.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
10.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward US 6 West, NY 17 West, NY 17M West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 6 West, NY 17 West, NY 17M West
7
224.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
224.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
324.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
8
327.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 54m in
Take the exit toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
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 6
Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem R...
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 Warwick, NY to Amherst, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Albany
133.2 mi in
|
~2h 48m
|
via I 81
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 99.6 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 81 | 39.3 mi | 46m |
| NY 17 | 33.7 mi | 40m |
| Clinton Street | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| East Lake Road | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Chase Street | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| East Genesee Street | 7.3 mi | 13m |
| State Route 41 | 4.8 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Warwick, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on NY 17A; NY 94
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on NY 17A; NY 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Avenue
3
Continue on NY 17A; NY 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Seward Highway
4
Continue on NY 17A; NY 94
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
5
Continue on NY 17A
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Florida Road
6
Continue on NY 17A
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 17A
7
Continue on NY 17A
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Greenwich Avenue
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17M
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
NY 17M
9
Take the ramp
89 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
Toward US 6 West, NY 17 West, NY 17M West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on NY 17
34 mi
·
40 min
·
NY 17
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi
·
43 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 52
Toward NY 13: Cortland
14
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
15
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Avenue
16
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
18
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Clinton Street
19
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
20
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
21
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
22
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Lake Street
23
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Genesee Street
24
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Fulton Street
25
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial West
26
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Chase Street
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
28
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 318
29
Continue on NY 318
319 ft
·
10 sec
·
NY 318
Use the right lane.
30
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
State Route 414
Use the right lane.
31
Continue on NY 414
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
32
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Use the left lane.
33
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Merge onto I 90
100 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
New York State Thruway
35
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 50
Toward I 290: Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on I 290
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 6
Toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Turn left onto NY 324
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheridan Drive
Use the left / right lanes.
39
Turn left onto NY 263
469 ft
·
13 sec
·
Millersport Highway
Use the left lane.
40
Arrive at destination
NY 263
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour and 57-minute journey, consider departing early to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. While it's manageable in one day, you'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the 328.3 miles. Given the "turn-heavy local drive" character, pay close attention to your GPS, especially when transitioning between the New York State Thruway, I-81, and NY 17. The estimated fuel cost of $54 is a good baseline, but keep an eye on your gauge, particularly before entering longer stretches like the 99.6-mile segment on the Thruway.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.1 miles from Warwick, NY, or about 3h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 72 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.1 miles or 3h 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 5h 47m
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 Warwick, 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 Warwick, NY
This is one driving day of about 328.3 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Warwick, 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 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 164.1 mi from Warwick, NY · 3h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
164 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 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 164.1 miles from Warwick, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.04 one way
$108.08 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
115 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $58.43 | $116.87 |
| premium | $4.92 | $63.63 | $127.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.48 | $144.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.98
New York State Thruway
(99.6 mi)
$4.98
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
$54
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 98.5 | 1 | $34.47 | $15.76 |
| Efficient EV | 82.1 | 0 | $28.73 | $13.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 131.3 | 1 | $45.96 | $21.01 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Amherst, NY
Morning in Amherst on Friday
Local time
8:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Union, NY
164 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
15 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
6h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Warwick, NY to Amherst, NY covers 328.3 miles and takes about 6h 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 81, NY 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164.1 miles from Warwick, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.04 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 1 meaningful break 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 21 significant decision points across 328.3 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 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 224.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Warwick, NY to Amherst, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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