Traveling from Alfred to Brooklyn covers 309.9 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 29 minutes of active driving time. Because this journey is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, it is best approached as a dedicated one-day trip. Budgeting approximately $49 for fuel will keep you covered for the transit across New York State. While the drive is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the local roads means you should prioritize comfort over speed. Since you are moving from the rural Northeast to the dense urban environment of Brooklyn, expect the pace of traffic to shift significantly as you approach your destination.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
154.9 miles from Alfred, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 309.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this route consists entirely of turn-heavy local roads rather than high-speed interstates. With 0% highway share, you will be navigating technical stretches that demand your full focus rather than settling into a monotonous cruise. The road's personality is defined by constant changes in direction, requiring you to stay alert through every turn. Because there are no major highway stretches to break up the drive, you should prepare for a consistent, winding rhythm that persists from start to finish. This is not a route for those looking to zone out; it is a drive that rewards attentive navigation.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern Tier Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 125.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,904 ft7 ft
Total Climb
2,027 ft
Total Descent
3,739 ft
Highest Point
1,904 ft
~206.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,897 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 132.5 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 309.8 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 132.5 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 185.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 297.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
132.5 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
185.8 mi into trip|~3h 41m 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...
7
297.9 mi into trip|~6h 1m in
Take the exit toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
298.1 mi into trip|~6h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
8
303.2 mi into trip|~6h 13m in
Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alfred, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
Step-by-step road directions between Alfred, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
1
Start on Main Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
2
Continue on NY 244
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 244
3
Continue on NY 244
0.3 mi·24 sec·State Highway 244
4
Turn right onto Shaw Road
135 ft·7 sec·Shaw Road
5
Turn left onto NY 21
2.1 mi·3 min·State Route 21
6
Continue on NY 21
1.8 mi·2 min·South Main Street
7
Turn left onto CR 2
0.2 mi·35 sec·Karrdale Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
9
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
126 mi·2 hr 26 min·Southern Tier Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
15
Merge onto I 80
63 mi·1 hr 19 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 47AToward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
17
Continue on I 280
16 mi·20 min·Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 17AToward CR 508 East: Jersey City
19
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi·3 min·Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi·43 sec·New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Turn straight
0.3 mi·35 sec
Use the straight lane.
24
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
25
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
26
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
1.9 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
28
Take the exit
428 ft·14 sec
Toward NY 9A
29
Turn slight left onto Laight Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
30
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
0.9 mi·2 min·West Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Take the exit
2.6 mi·5 min
Exit 2Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, BrooklynUse the left lane.
32
Continue on I 278
0.6 mi·50 sec·Gowanus Expressway
33
Take the exit onto NY 27
1.5 mi·2 min·NY 27
Exit 24Toward NY 27 East: Prospect ExpresswayUse the slight left / straight lanes.
34
Take the exit onto NY 27
0.4 mi·47 sec·NY 27
Exit 5Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical CenterUse the slight right lane.
35
Turn left onto NY 27
1.2 mi·2 min·Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Continue on NY 27
0.4 mi·31 sec·Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Nostrand Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
Nostrand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the technical nature of these local roads, aim to depart early in the morning to ensure you reach Brooklyn before peak congestion sets in. Because the route features zero planned stops, you should identify your own refueling and rest breaks ahead of time to keep your $49 fuel budget on track. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so monitor your energy levels closely and pull over whenever you feel the need to stretch. Since the entire trip is a turn-heavy local drive, confirm your GPS settings are optimized for local navigation rather than highway-only routes. Taking the time to map out your own rest intervals will make the 309.9-mile journey much more comfortable.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 154.9 miles from Alfred, NY, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.6 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 68 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.9 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alfred, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alfred, NY
This is one driving day of about 309.8 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Alfred, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Southern Tier Expressway for about 125.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 154.9 mi from Alfred, NY
· 3h 5m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 299.1
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 299.1
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 299.1
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 299.1
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 299.1
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 299.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.00 one way
$101.99 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$55.14
$110.28
premium
$4.92
$60.05
$120.09
diesel
$5.61
$68.40
$136.80
Estimated Tolls: $16.14
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
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
$51
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.9
1
$32.53
$14.87
Efficient EV
77.5
0
$27.11
$12.39
EV Truck/SUV
123.9
1
$43.37
$19.83
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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 as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Alfred, NY
Morning
in Alfred on Friday
Local time
7:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brooklyn, NY
Morning
in Brooklyn on Friday
Local time
7:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph9% chanceLive forecast
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
41 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
6h 27m 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 Alfred, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 309.8 miles and takes about 6h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 154.9 miles from Alfred, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.00 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 309.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 132.5 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 185.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 297.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Alfred, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 7 ft to 1,904 ft elevation with about 2,027 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Elevation is sampled from
USGS 3DEP.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
