After Gridleyille, NY 96B begins a winding alignment northward, passing to the southwest of Willseyville.

[3] NY 96B remains a two-lane rural roadway after the county line, crossing northwest through Danby, passing by some creek-side residences.

After a stretch of residences, the roadway passes into the hamlet of Danby, intersecting with CR 126 (Bald Hill Road).

After an intersection with CR 128 (Comfort Road), NY 96B enters the town of Ithaca.

Before the Erie Canal, the road was one of the main routes of travel into Tompkins County.

The segment of the turnpike connecting the village of Candor to the city of Ithaca was designated as part of Route 36, an unsigned legislative route assigned by the New York State Legislature in 1908.