How far is Poughkeepsie, NY from Amherst, NY?

The driving distance from Poughkeepsie, NY to Amherst, NY is about 358.9 miles (577.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 264.3 miles (425.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 59m 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
358.89 mi
05h 29m
Flight
264.3 mi
425.35 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Poughkeepsie.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
264.3 mi
Kilometers
425.35 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
358.89 mi
Kilometers
577.57 km
Drive Time
05h 29m

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 05h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Amherst
Wed, Apr 22, 9:53 PM EDT
Return by in Poughkeepsie
Thu, Apr 23, 3:22 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Poughkeepsie
2026-04-22T16:23
Arrive Amherst
Wed, Apr 22, 9:53 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:30 AM to 1:30 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
6:00 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Poughkeepsie
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
Dix
NY

Town in Schuyler County, New York

From Poughkeepsie
176.4 mi
02h 44m
To Amherst
182.4 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph W
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 Poughkeepsie and Amherst.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Poughkeepsie and Amherst.

  1. 1

    Start on Reservoir Square

    15 m · 2 sec · Reservoir Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto South Clinton Street

    564 ft · 22 sec · South Clinton Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Little Smith Street

    83 m · 12 sec · Little Smith Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight right

    34 m · 6 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight right onto Mill Street

    2152 ft · 38 sec · Mill Street

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto East-West Arterial

    642 ft · 9 sec · East-West Arterial

  7. 7

    Continue on Columbus Drive

    1174 ft · 18 sec · Columbus Drive

  8. 8

    Continue on Church Street

    1930 ft · 36 sec · Church Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Mid-Hudson Bridge

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Mid-Hudson Bridge

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1.4 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    13 mi · 17 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Old US 9W

    1858 ft · 26 sec · Old US 9W

  13. 13

    Continue on Kingston-Port Ewen Suspension Bridge

    1090 ft · 14 sec · Kingston-Port Ewen Suspension Bridge

  14. 14

    Continue on Wurts Street

    1830 ft · 26 sec · Wurts Street

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn right onto McEntee Street

    577 ft · 18 sec · McEntee Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Broadway

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Broadway

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Colonel Chandler Drive

    27 m · 1 sec · Colonel Chandler Drive

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Colonel Chandler Drive

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Colonel Chandler Drive

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Kingston Traffic Circle

    7 m · 1 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the rotary onto I 87: New York State Thruway

    1094 ft · 27 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    1956 ft · 48 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

    55.8 mi · 1 hr 4 min · New York State Thruway

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on New York State Thruway

    272.4 mi · 5 hr 15 min · New York State Thruway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Niagara Falls

    2277 ft · 37 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Youngmann Expressway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Youngmann Expressway

  26. 26

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

    1117 ft · 30 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Sheridan Drive

    1.4 km · 2 min · Sheridan Drive

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Millersport Highway

    143 m · 14 sec · Millersport Highway

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Millersport Highway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
29 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New York State Thruway
328 mi · 91%
Mid-Hudson Bridge
16.2 mi · 5%
Youngmann Expressway
1.76 mi
Broadway
1.45 mi
Colonel Chandler Drive
1.25 mi
Sheridan Drive
0.87 mi
Longest Stretch

New York State Thruway

Keep slight left to continue on New York State Thruway

272 mi · 05h 15m

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
05h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+94.6 mi
264.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dix
02h 44m from Poughkeepsie
Leave By
6:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Poughkeepsie 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 Poughkeepsie to Amherst?

The road trip is about 358.9 miles (577.6 km) and usually takes 05h 29m 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?

Dix is a useful midpoint, sitting about 176.4 miles from Poughkeepsie and 182.4 miles from Amherst.

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

The direct path is about 264.3 miles (425.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 94.6 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 6:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $50.75 one way or $101.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Dix

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Dix, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Dix.

RAIL

Rome station

4 mi away
6599 Martin Street
RAIL

Union Station

21 mi away
321 Main St.
RAIL

William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center

57 mi away
131 Alliance Bank Parkway
RAIL

Empire Expo Center

62 mi away
581 State Fair Blvd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Poughkeepsie and Amherst. Straight-line distance: 264.3 mi (425.35 km).

Poughkeepsie

#1 Poughkeepsie

The county seat of Dutchess County, New York.

Population42,942
Coordinates41.7003700, -73.9209700
Altitude62
CountryUnited States
Amherst

#2 Amherst

Town in New York, United States

Population120,809
Coordinates42.9783900, -78.7997600
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: Reservoir Square (-73.920874, 41.700526)
End: Millersport Highway (-78.799874, 42.978447)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 578 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.66 gal
47.94 L · about $50.75
Round trip
$101.51
25.32 gal · 95.88 L
Estimated CO2
112.5 kg one way
Round trip: 225 kg / 496 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $50.75 $101.51
Mid-grade $4.48 $56.73 $113.46
Premium $4.86 $61.54 $123.08
Diesel $4.69 $59.43 $118.85

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Poughkeepsie and Amherst. The current time is 16:23:31.

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.