Trip from Alabama, NY to Manhattan, NY

Drive Time

7h 35m

Distance

363.2 mi

585 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$59

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

7h 26m ★

6 AM

7h 36m

8 AM

7h 56m

10 AM

7h 43m

12 PM

7h 41m

3 PM

7h 44m

5 PM

7h 55m

8 PM

7h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Alabama, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Manhattan, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Traveling from Alabama, NY to Manhattan covers 361.9 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 12 minutes of drive time. You will primarily navigate via Alleghany Road, I-90 East, and the New York State Thruway to reach the city. While this journey is technically feasible in a single day, the duration makes for a long stint behind the wheel, so prepare accordingly. Expect to spend approximately $57 on fuel for the trip. Since you are staying within the Northeast region throughout the entire drive, you won't experience major geographic transitions, but you will notice the shift from rural Western New York into the dense urban environment of Manhattan.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

181.6 miles from Alabama, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate sprint. You will begin by navigating the local character of Alleghany Road before transitioning onto the major highway arteries. With a highway share of 0%, you should anticipate a more engaged driving experience that requires constant attention to turns and transitions. Because there is no extended stretch of uninterrupted highway, the route demands more focus than a typical cross-country interstate cruise. Be ready for a steady, active drive that keeps you alert as you move across the state.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 55 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 98.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 39 significant decision points across 363.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 39 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 90 East: Albany

87.7 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde

238 mi into trip | ~5h in | US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...

352.6 mi into trip | ~7h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...

352.9 mi into trip | ~7h 16m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck

Towns Along This Route

Between Alabama, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono and Milford.

Clyde

87.7 mi in | ~1h 44m

Mt Pocono

238 mi in | ~5h | via US 6

Milford

238.8 mi in | ~5h 1m | via I 84; I 380

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 81	98.8 mi	1h 57m
New York State Thruway	80.7 mi	1h 33m
Keystone Shortway	80 mi	1h 37m
I 380	23.6 mi	25m
East Lake Road	9.9 mi	14m
State Highway 41	9.8 mi	13m
Clark Street Road	9.6 mi	11m
Alleghany Road	6.6 mi	9m

Longest stretch: I 81 — 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alabama, NY and Manhattan, NY.

Start on Lewiston Road

31 ft · 6 sec · Lewiston Road

Turn left onto NY 63; NY 77

6.6 mi · 9 min · Alleghany Road

Take the ramp

369 ft · 9 sec

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 15 sec · this road

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 90 East: Albany Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 90

81 mi · 1 hr 33 min · New York State Thruway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

327 ft · 7 sec

Continue on NY 414

0.3 mi · 35 sec · State Route 414

Turn left onto NY 318

4.1 mi · 7 min · NY 318

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road

Continue on US 20; NY 5

9.6 mi · 11 min · Clark Street Road

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto State Street

226 ft · 12 sec · State Street

Turn left onto Dill Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Dill Street

Continue on Loop Road

458 ft · 16 sec · Loop Road

Turn left onto Genesee Street

5.5 mi · 9 min · Genesee Street

Continue on US 20

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Genesee Street Road

Turn right onto NY 41

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Lake Street

Continue on NY 41

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

9.8 mi · 13 min · State Highway 41

Turn right onto NY 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · North West Street

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min

Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward I 81 South: Binghamton

Merge onto I 81

45 mi · 54 min · I 81

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81

Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6

Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380

Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380

Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min

Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg

Merge onto I 80

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec

Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck Use the slight right lane.

Turn right

0.2 mi · 35 sec

Exit 70A Toward Leonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto CR 56

454 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue

Continue on CR 56

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on CR 56

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street

Take the ramp

472 ft · 12 sec

Toward George Washington Bridge

Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Bergen Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

312 ft · 4 sec

Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.3 mi · 20 sec · I 95 EXPR

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.5 mi · 45 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

Take the exit onto US 9

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 9

Exit 1A Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown Use the straight lane.

Merge onto HH; NY 9A

4.2 mi · 6 min · Henry Hudson Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on West 79th Street

0.2 mi · 51 sec · West 79th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Broadway

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Broadway

Turn right onto West 86th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 86th Street

Continue on 86th Street Transverse

0.2 mi · 35 sec · 86th Street Transverse

Toward East Side Use the straight / left lanes.

Arrive at destination

86th Street Transverse

Trip Plan

To manage the 6-hour and 12-minute duration efficiently, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the route involves a significant number of turns, leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and navigate the final approach into Manhattan during daylight hours. Keep your $57 fuel budget in mind when planning your stops, as prices can fluctuate between local roads and major transit corridors. Because this is a single-day trip, your primary advantage is flexibility; pack your own snacks and drinks to minimize unnecessary diversions. Pay close attention to your GPS while on Alleghany Road, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be making frequent navigational adjustments.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 181.6 miles from Alabama, NY, or about 3h 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 181.6 miles or 3h 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Alabama, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Alabama, NY

This is one driving day of about 363.2 miles and 7h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alabama, NY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 181.6 mi from Alabama, NY · 3h 53m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

182 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Ithaca, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Syracuse, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 181.6 miles from Alabama, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.8 miles.

Arriving in Manhattan, NY

The final approach into Manhattan, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Manhattan, NY.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$59.13 one way

$118.25 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 127 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$64.07	$128.15
premium	$4.88	$69.82	$139.65
diesel	$5.64	$80.69	$161.38

Estimated Tolls: $20.04

George Washington Bridge $16.00

New York State Thruway (80.7 mi) $4.04

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$59

Tolls

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$104–$129

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 127.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	109	1	$38.14	$17.43
Efficient EV	90.8	1	$31.78	$14.53
EV Truck/SUV	145.3	1	$50.85	$23.24

Gas CO2

127 kg

EV CO2

42 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Alabama, NY

Evening in Alabama on Sunday

Local time

6:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manhattan, NY

Evening in Manhattan on Sunday

Local time

6:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

182 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

10 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 35m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alabama, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 363.2 miles and takes about 7h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 81, New York State Thruway, Keystone Shortway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 181.6 miles from Alabama, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Alabama, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono and Milford.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Manhattan, NY to Alabama, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

360.8 mi 7h 32m

Explore more options from Alabama, NY or browse trips ending in Manhattan, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Explore maps for Alabama, NY or Manhattan, NY on MapSof.net.

Trip from Alabama, NY to Manhattan, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Manhattan, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Alabama, NY

Manhattan, NY

Same local time

10 degrees warmer at arrival

7h 35m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Manhattan, NY

More from Alabama, NY

More trips to Manhattan, NY