The drive from Yonkers, NY to Brighton, NY covers 312.1 miles and takes about 6h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Long Mountain Parkway, New York State Thruway, I 81 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
156 miles from Yonkers, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Yonkers is a city of 211,569 people (2020) in Westchester County. The third most populous city in New York state, Yonkers is a suburb of New York City and borders the Borough of the Bronx. Yonkers is known as the "City of Seven Hills," which are Park, Nodine, Ridge, Cross, Locust, Glen, and Church hills.
Top landmarks
•Untermyer Park — public garden
•Hudson River Museum — museum in Yonkers, N.Y.
•Glenview Mansion — historic house in New York, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 42m. Total distance: 312.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 42m highway drive covering 312.1 miles, with most of the trip on Long Mountain Parkway and New York State Thruway. The longest continuous stretch is about 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 46 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 107.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Mountain Parkway and New York State Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 31 significant decision points across 312.1 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 20 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 268.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 31 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
20 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
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 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
7
268.6 mi into trip|~5h 49m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
268.8 mi into trip|~5h 49m 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
299.7 mi into trip|~6h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 490: Rochester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 45
Toward I 490: Rochester
8
311.4 mi into trip|~6h 41m in
Take the exit toward University Avenue, Winton Road
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 20
Toward University Avenue, Winton Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yonkers, NY and Brighton, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Albany.
Palisades Parkway North
20 mi in|~28m
Bear Mountain
20 mi in|~28m
New York State Thruway
35.5 mi in|~47m
Albany
177.3 mi in|~3h 43m|via I 81
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
New York State Thruway
47 mi
57m
I 81
39.3 mi
46m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
Eastern Expressway
11.3 mi
13m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yonkers, NY and Brighton, NY.
1
Start on US 9; NY 9A
181 ft·11 sec·South Broadway
2
Turn sharp right onto Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·48 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
4
Turn right onto NY 9A
0.1 mi·19 sec·Ashburton Avenue
5
Turn left onto NY 9A
1.4 mi·2 min·Saw Mill River Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on Tuckahoe Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Tuckahoe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 87 North
8
Merge onto I 87
17 mi·22 min·New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
12
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
13
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
18
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
19
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
20
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
22
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
23
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
24
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
25
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
26
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
27
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
28
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
29
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
30
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
32
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
33
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
34
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
35
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
36
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
38
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
39
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 45Toward I 490: RochesterUse the slight right lane.
40
Continue on I 490
11 mi·13 min·Eastern Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 20Toward University Avenue, Winton RoadUse the slight right lane.
42
Turn straight onto University Avenue
333 ft·10 sec·University Avenue
43
Turn right onto North Winton Road
453 ft·9 sec·North Winton Road
44
Turn right onto Halstead Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·Halstead Street
45
Turn sharp left
177 ft·13 sec
46
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 156 miles from Yonkers, NY, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 69 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156 miles or 3h 18m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brighton, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yonkers, 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 Yonkers, NY
This is one driving day of about 312.1 miles and 6h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Yonkers, 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 Long Mountain Parkway for about 107.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 156 mi from Yonkers, NY
· 3h 18m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 247.5
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.37 one way
$102.75 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$55.55
$111.10
premium
$4.92
$60.49
$120.98
diesel
$5.61
$68.91
$137.82
Estimated Tolls: $2.35
New York State Thruway
(47 mi)$2.35
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
$51
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.6
1
$32.77
$14.98
Efficient EV
78
0
$27.31
$12.48
EV Truck/SUV
124.8
1
$43.69
$19.97
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Yonkers, NY
Morning
in Yonkers on Saturday
Local time
11:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brighton, NY
Morning
in Brighton on Saturday
Local time
11:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
SE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
10 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 42m 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 Yonkers, NY to Brighton, NY covers 312.1 miles and takes about 6h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Mountain Parkway, New York State Thruway, 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 156 miles from Yonkers, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.37 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 31 significant decision points across 312.1 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 20 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 268.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Yonkers, NY and Brighton, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Albany.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Women's Rights National Historical Park, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Hamilton Grange National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
