How far is Tonawanda, NY from Cortland, NY?

The driving distance from Tonawanda, NY to Cortland, NY is about 162 miles (260.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.9 miles (225.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 05m 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
161.99 mi
03h 32m
Flight
139.87 mi
225.1 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Tonawanda.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
139.87 mi
Kilometers
225.1 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
161.99 mi
Kilometers
260.7 km
Drive Time
03h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cortland
Thu, Oct 15, 5:58 PM EDT
Return by in Tonawanda
Thu, Oct 15, 9:31 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tonawanda
2026-10-15T14:25
Arrive Cortland
Thu, Oct 15, 5:58 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 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
9:54 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Tonawanda
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
Victor
NY

Village in Ontario County, New York

From Tonawanda
80.8 mi
01h 46m
To Cortland
81.2 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
45°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph NE
Destination
59°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 1:00 PM EDT
Wind
3 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Tonawanda and Cortland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tonawanda and Cortland.

  1. 1

    Start on Seymour Street

    750 ft · 29 sec · Seymour Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    1336 ft · 42 sec · Broad Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Young Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Young Street

  4. 4

    Turn left

    773 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Twin Cities Memorial Highway

    1.4 km · 2 min · Twin Cities Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 290 East

    1266 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Youngmann Expressway

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Youngmann Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East: Albany

    1 km · 57 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

    99.4 mi · 1 hr 55 min · New York State Thruway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde

    2420 ft · 59 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    100 m · 8 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on State Route 414

    1557 ft · 35 sec · State Route 414

  13. 13

    Turn left

    4.1 mi · 7 min

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Auburn Road

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Clark Street Road

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Clark Street Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto State Street

    69 m · 12 sec · State Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Dill Street

    720 ft · 22 sec · Dill Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Loop Road

    140 m · 17 sec · Loop Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Genesee Street

    5.5 mi · 10 min · Genesee Street

  20. 20

    Continue on West Genesee Street Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · West Genesee Street Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto East Lake Street

    2676 ft · 45 sec · East Lake Street

  22. 22

    Continue on East Lake Road

    9.4 mi · 14 min · East Lake Road

  23. 23

    Continue on State Route 41

    4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41

  24. 24

    Continue on East Lake Road

    2904 ft · 49 sec · East Lake Road

  25. 25

    Continue on State Highway 41

    9.8 mi · 14 min · State Highway 41

  26. 26

    Turn right onto North West Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North West Street

  27. 27

    Continue on West Homer Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Homer Road

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Fisher Avenue

    2640 ft · 1 min · Fisher Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    999 ft · 24 sec · South Main Street

  30. 30

    Continue on Homer Avenue

    1815 ft · 54 sec · Homer Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1597 ft · 46 sec · North Main Street

  32. 32

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Main Street

    1892 ft · 50 sec · North Main Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Tonawanda and Cortland.

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
33 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New York State Thruway
99.4 mi · 61%
East Lake Road
9.92 mi · 6%
State Highway 41
9.82 mi · 6%
Clark Street Road
9.59 mi · 6%
Youngmann Expressway
6.34 mi · 4%
Genesee Street
5.45 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

New York State Thruway

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

99.4 mi · 01h 55m

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 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.1 mi
139.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Victor
01h 46m from Tonawanda
Leave By
9:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Tonawanda and Mostly Sunny near Cortland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Tonawanda to Cortland?

The road trip is about 162 miles (260.7 km) and usually takes 03h 32m 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?

Victor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80.8 miles from Tonawanda and 81.2 miles from Cortland.

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

The direct path is about 139.9 miles (225.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.1 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 9:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.44 one way or $50.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Tonawanda and Mostly Sunny near Cortland.

Stop Ideas Near Victor

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

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

RAIL

Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station

26 mi away
320 Central Avenue
RAIL

Empire Expo Center

98 mi away
581 State Fair Blvd
RAIL

William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center

103 mi away
131 Alliance Bank Parkway
RAIL

Buffalo–Depew station

108 mi away
55 Dick Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Tonawanda and Cortland. Straight-line distance: 139.87 mi (225.1 km).

Tonawanda

#1 Tonawanda

City in the state of New York, USA

Population14,755
Coordinates43.0203300, -78.8803100
Altitude175
CountryUnited States
Cortland

#2 Cortland

City in New York, USA

Population18,455
Coordinates42.6011800, -76.1804800
Altitude344
CountryUnited States
Start: Tonawanda (-78.88031, 43.02033)
End: Cortland (-76.18048, 42.60118)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 261 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.72 gal
21.64 L · about $25.44
Round trip
$50.89
11.44 gal · 43.28 L
Estimated CO2
50.8 kg one way
Round trip: 101.7 kg / 224 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.45 $25.44 $50.89
Mid-grade $4.98 $28.50 $56.99
Premium $5.38 $30.79 $61.57
Diesel $6.51 $37.23 $74.46

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 Tonawanda and Cortland. The current time is 14:25:28.

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.