How far is Schenectady, NY from Ithaca, NY?

The driving distance from Schenectady, NY to Ithaca, NY is about 151.4 miles (243.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132.5 miles (213.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 35m 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
151.34 mi
03h 17m
Flight
132.53 mi
213.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Schenectady.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
132.53 mi
Kilometers
213.28 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
151.34 mi
Kilometers
243.56 km
Drive Time
03h 17m

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 03h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ithaca
Thu, Oct 15, 8:39 PM EDT
Return by in Schenectady
Thu, Oct 15, 11:57 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Schenectady
2026-10-15T17:22
Arrive Ithaca
Thu, Oct 15, 8:39 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:18 AM to 11:18 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:24 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Schenectady
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
Otego
NY

Human settlement in Otsego County, New York, United States of America

From Schenectady
75.5 mi
01h 38m
To Ithaca
75.9 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 1:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
62°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 3:00 PM EDT
Wind
3 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Schenectady and Ithaca.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Schenectady and Ithaca.

  1. 1

    Start on Jay Street

    28 m · 10 sec · Jay Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Liberty Street

    531 ft · 21 sec · Liberty Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Broadway

    2.8 mi · 7 min · Broadway

  4. 4

    Continue on Duanesburg Road

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Duanesburg Road

  5. 5

    Turn right

    1144 ft · 25 sec

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left

    1722 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    86.6 mi · 1 hr 40 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward NY 206: Bainbridge

    2492 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Demarest Avenue

    132 m · 8 sec · Demarest Avenue

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Demarest Avenue

    34 m · 2 sec · Demarest Avenue

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Demarest Avenue

    655 ft · 11 sec · Demarest Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on East Main Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · East Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on State Highway 206

    6.8 mi · 11 min · State Highway 206

  14. 14

    Continue on State Highway 41

    1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 41

  15. 15

    Continue on State Highway 206

    6.7 mi · 10 min · State Highway 206

  16. 16

    Continue on Coventry Road

    609 ft · 10 sec · Coventry Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Washington Street

    1521 ft · 26 sec · Washington Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Genesee Street

    2463 ft · 44 sec · Genesee Street

  19. 19

    Continue on State Highway 206

    10.3 mi · 15 min · State Highway 206

  20. 20

    Continue on East Main Street

    2670 ft · 47 sec · East Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn right

    30.5 mi · 40 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Seneca Way

    991 ft · 30 sec · Seneca Way

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Seneca Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Schenectady and Ithaca.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Duanesburg Road
89.4 mi · 59%
State Highway 206
23.8 mi · 16%
Broadway
2.81 mi · 2%
East Main Street
1.44 mi · 1%
State Highway 41
1.29 mi · 1%
NY 206
0.47 mi
Longest Stretch

Duanesburg Road

Merge slight left

86.6 mi · 01h 40m

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
03h 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.9 mi
132.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Otego
01h 38m from Schenectady
Leave By
10:24 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Schenectady and Sunny near Ithaca.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Schenectady to Ithaca?

The road trip is about 151.4 miles (243.6 km) and usually takes 03h 17m 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?

Otego is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.5 miles from Schenectady and 75.9 miles from Ithaca.

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

The direct path is about 132.5 miles (213.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.9 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 10:24 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.75 one way or $47.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Schenectady and Sunny near Ithaca.

Stop Ideas Near Otego

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Otego, 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 Otego.

RAIL

Union Station

79 mi away
321 Main St.
RAIL

Rome station

92 mi away
6599 Martin Street
RAIL

Amsterdam station

100 mi away
Railroad St. & West Main Ave.
RAIL

Schenectady

111 mi away
332 Erie Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Schenectady and Ithaca. Straight-line distance: 132.53 mi (213.28 km).

Schenectady

#1 Schenectady

The most populous city in Schenectady County, New York.

Population65,231
Coordinates42.8142400, -73.9395700
Altitude74
CountryUnited States
Ithaca

#2 Ithaca

City in New York, USA

Population30,981
Coordinates42.4406300, -76.4966100
Altitude125
CountryUnited States
Start: Schenectady (-73.93957, 42.81424)
End: Ithaca (-76.49661, 42.44063)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 244 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.34 gal
20.22 L · about $23.75
Round trip
$47.50
10.68 gal · 40.44 L
Estimated CO2
47.5 kg one way
Round trip: 94.9 kg / 209 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.45 $23.75 $47.50
Mid-grade $4.98 $26.60 $53.21
Premium $5.38 $28.74 $57.48
Diesel $6.51 $34.76 $69.52

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Schenectady and Ithaca. The current time is 17:22:09.

Distance to Other Cities

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