How far is Ballston Spa, NY from Amherst, NY?

The driving distance from Ballston Spa, NY to Amherst, NY is about 270.9 miles (436 km), with a travel time of about 04h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 250.2 miles (402.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
270.93 mi
04h 20m
Flight
250.18 mi
402.63 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ballston Spa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
250.18 mi
Kilometers
402.63 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
270.93 mi
Kilometers
436.02 km
Drive Time
04h 20m

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 04h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Amherst
Thu, Apr 23, 1:42 AM EDT
Return by in Ballston Spa
Thu, Apr 23, 6:02 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ballston Spa
2026-04-22T21:21
Arrive Amherst
Thu, Apr 23, 1:42 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:18 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ballston Spa
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Seneca Knolls
NY

Census-designated place in Onondaga County, New York

From Ballston Spa
135 mi
02h 10m
To Amherst
136 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
60°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ballston Spa and Amherst.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ballston Spa and Amherst.

  1. 1

    Start on West High Street

    1 km · 1 min · West High Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Amsterdam Road

    12.6 mi · 17 min · Amsterdam Road

  3. 3

    Continue on State Highway 67

    4.5 mi · 7 min · State Highway 67

  4. 4

    Continue on Church Street

    1.4 mi · 4 min · Church Street

  5. 5

    Continue on State Highway 67

    875 ft · 25 sec · State Highway 67

  6. 6

    Continue on Market Street

    560 ft · 19 sec · Market Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Pearl Street

    656 ft · 23 sec · Pearl Street

  8. 8

    Continue on East Main Street

    116 m · 11 sec · East Main Street

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 30

    1.5 km · 2 min · State Highway 30

  10. 10

    Turn left

    121 m · 12 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    525 ft · 14 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West

    2189 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

    246 mi · 4 hr 44 min · New York State Thruway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Niagara Falls

    2277 ft · 37 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on Youngmann Expressway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Youngmann Expressway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road

    1117 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Sheridan Drive

    1.4 km · 2 min · Sheridan Drive

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Millersport Highway

    143 m · 14 sec · Millersport Highway

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Millersport Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ballston Spa and Amherst.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
19 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New York State Thruway
246 mi · 91%
Amsterdam Road
12.6 mi · 5%
State Highway 67
4.67 mi · 2%
Youngmann Expressway
1.76 mi · 1%
Church Street
1.42 mi · 1%
State Highway 30
1.01 mi
Longest Stretch

New York State Thruway

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

246 mi · 04h 44m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.7 mi
250.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Seneca Knolls
02h 10m from Ballston Spa
Leave By
8:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Ballston Spa and Mostly Sunny near Amherst.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ballston Spa to Amherst?

The road trip is about 270.9 miles (436 km) and usually takes 04h 20m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Seneca Knolls is a useful midpoint, sitting about 135 miles from Ballston Spa and 136 miles from Amherst.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 250.2 miles (402.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.7 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.33 one way or $76.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around Ballston Spa and Mostly Sunny near Amherst.

Stop Ideas Near Seneca Knolls

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Seneca Knolls and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Cafe
Coffee break 7.1 mi away

City Hall Cafe

Syracuse , NY
300 S State St, Syracuse, NY 13202
Rating 4.6/5 32 reviews Coffee shop
Syracuse City Hall
Meeting point 7 mi away

Syracuse City Hall

Syracuse , NY
233 E Washington St, Syracuse, NY 13202
Rating 4.0/5 26 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Seneca Knolls.

RAIL

Empire Expo Center

8 mi away
581 State Fair Blvd
RAIL

William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center

12 mi away
131 Alliance Bank Parkway
RAIL

Rome station

68 mi away
6599 Martin Street
RAIL

Union Station

86 mi away
321 Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ballston Spa and Amherst. Straight-line distance: 250.18 mi (402.63 km).

Ballston Spa

#1 Ballston Spa

City in Saratoga County, New York, United States of America

Population5,189
Coordinates43.0009100, -73.8490100
Altitude96
CountryUnited States
Amherst

#2 Amherst

Town in New York, United States

Population120,809
Coordinates42.9783900, -78.7997600
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: West High Street (-73.848996, 43.000804)
End: Millersport Highway (-78.799874, 42.978447)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 436 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.56 gal
36.19 L · about $38.33
Round trip
$76.65
19.12 gal · 72.38 L
Estimated CO2
85 kg one way
Round trip: 169.9 kg / 375 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $38.33 $76.65
Mid-grade $4.48 $42.84 $85.68
Premium $4.86 $46.47 $92.94
Diesel $4.69 $44.87 $89.75

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Ballston Spa and Amherst. The current time is 21:21:37.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.