How far is Amherst, NY from Saranac Lake, NY?
The driving distance from Amherst, NY to Saranac Lake, NY is about 325.5 miles (523.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 57m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 251.3 miles (404.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 06h 57m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in New York, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Amherst and Saranac Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst and Saranac Lake.
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1
Start on Millersport Highway
1848 ft · 51 sec · Millersport Highway
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2
Take the ramp slight right toward I 290 E
1756 ft · 43 sec
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3
Merge slight left onto Youngmann Expressway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Youngmann Expressway
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4
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East: Albany
1 km · 57 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
137.1 mi · 2 hr 38 min · New York State Thruway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
152 m · 14 sec
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7
Continue on I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
3052 ft · 1 min
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8
Turn straight onto I 81 North: Syracuse Airport, Watertown
3027 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left
64.6 mi · 1 hr 15 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward NY 12F: Airport
1438 ft · 36 sec
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11
Turn right onto Coffeen Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · Coffeen Street
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12
Turn left onto North Massey Street
1041 ft · 19 sec · North Massey Street
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13
Continue on Leray Street
1.6 km · 2 min · Leray Street
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14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
56 m · 2 sec
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15
Exit the roundabout
2972 ft · 38 sec
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16
Keep slight right
3.9 mi · 5 min
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17
Turn right
1.7 mi · 3 min
-
18
Turn left onto Pearl Street Road
3053 ft · 59 sec · Pearl Street Road
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19
Continue on Pearl Street Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · Pearl Street Road
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20
Continue on Gray Street
2804 ft · 1 min · Gray Street
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21
At the end of the road, turn right onto Gray Street
2062 ft · 57 sec · Gray Street
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22
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Route 3
4.4 mi · 7 min · State Route 3
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23
Turn left onto State Highway 3A
5.2 mi · 8 min · State Highway 3A
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24
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Route 3
15.8 mi · 22 min · State Route 3
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25
Continue on Main Street
1.2 km · 2 min · Main Street
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26
Continue on State Street
2079 ft · 59 sec · State Street
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27
Continue on State Highway 812
1770 ft · 34 sec · State Highway 812
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28
Continue on State Route 3
56.6 mi · 1 hr 20 min · State Route 3
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29
Continue on Main Street
1 mi · 3 min · Main Street
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30
Continue on Demars Boulevard
1.3 km · 2 min · Demars Boulevard
-
31
Turn left onto Santa Clara Avenue
1069 ft · 51 sec · Santa Clara Avenue
-
32
Turn right onto McLaughlin Avenue
3109 ft · 1 min · McLaughlin Avenue
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33
Turn left onto East Park Street
1.2 km · 2 min · East Park Street
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34
Continue on Tupper-Saranac Highway
3.9 mi · 6 min · Tupper-Saranac Highway
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35
Continue on Adirondack Trail
1 km · 51 sec · Adirondack Trail
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36
Continue on Tupper Lake Highway
6.4 mi · 9 min · Tupper Lake Highway
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37
Continue on State Route 3
5.9 mi · 8 min · State Route 3
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38
Continue on Algonquin Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · Algonquin Street
-
39
Continue on George H Lapan Memorial Highway
1.5 km · 2 min · George H Lapan Memorial Highway
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40
Turn left onto Canaras Avenue
67 m · 8 sec · Canaras Avenue
-
41
Continue on Olive Street
2252 ft · 1 min · Olive Street
-
42
At the end of the road, turn left onto Broadway Street
62 m · 7 sec · Broadway Street
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43
Turn right onto Bloomingdale Avenue
150 m · 12 sec · Bloomingdale Avenue
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44
Turn right onto Church Street
24 m · 1 sec · Church Street
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45
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Church Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Amherst and Saranac Lake.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
New York State Thruway
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
137 mi · 02h 38m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Patchy Fog leaving Amherst and Showers And Thunderstorms near Saranac Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Amherst to Saranac Lake?
The road trip is about 325.5 miles (523.8 km) and usually takes 06h 57m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Hastings is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.5 miles from Amherst and 163 miles from Saranac Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 251.3 miles (404.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 74.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.06 one way or $92.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Amherst and Showers And Thunderstorms near Saranac Lake.
Stop Ideas Near Hastings
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hastings.
William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center
Empire Expo Center
Rome station
Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Amherst and Saranac Lake. Straight-line distance: 251.31 mi (404.45 km).
#1 Amherst
Town in New York, United States
| Population | 120,809 |
| Coordinates | 42.9783900, -78.7997600 |
| Altitude | 182 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Saranac Lake
Village in New York
| Population | 5,193 |
| Coordinates | 44.3295000, -74.1312700 |
| Altitude | 471 |
| Country | United States |
End: Saranac Lake (-74.13127, 44.3295)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 524 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 38m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.01 | $46.06 | $92.13 |
| Mid-grade | $4.48 | $51.49 | $102.97 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $55.85 | $111.71 |
| Diesel | $4.69 | $53.93 | $107.87 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in New York · Apr 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.