Trip from Big Flats, NY to New York City, NY

Drive Time

Distance

241.7 mi

389 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 47m ★

6 AM

5h 1m

8 AM

5h 28m

10 AM

5h 10m

12 PM

5h 7m

3 PM

5h 12m

5 PM

5h 26m

8 PM

4h 53m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Big Flats, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

New York City, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Driving from Big Flats to New York City covers approximately 241.7 miles and typically takes about 5 hours behind the wheel. Because this trip is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You should budget roughly $38 for fuel to make the trek across the Northeast. The route relies on a combination of the Southern Tier Expressway, I-81, and the Keystone Shortway to navigate between these two New York locations. It is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that is best suited for travelers looking to reach the city efficiently without unnecessary detours.

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

120.8 miles from Big Flats, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is characterized by a strong emphasis on highway travel, with 70% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a steady, consistent pace, anchored by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 70.5 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway. Expect a functional drive that favors speed and efficiency over winding backroads or technical maneuvers. As you transition between these major arteries, the road maintains a predictable rhythm, making it a reliable choice for those who prefer interstate driving. The character of the route remains largely uniform, providing a stable experience from start to finish.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 28 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 70.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,877 ft 34 ft

Total Climb

1,578 ft

Total Descent

2,441 ft

Highest Point

1,877 ft

~141 mi in

Elevation Range

1,842 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 71.4 miles in near I 81.

Route Complexity 8/10

Involved — several decision points to watch

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 241.7 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 71.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.7 miles (US 6): Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one; at 129.2 miles (I 380): Highway fork — watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

71.4 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | I 81

Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 81 South: Scranton

124.7 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | US 6

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...

129.2 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | I 380

Highway fork — watch signs carefully

Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono

236.8 mi into trip | ~4h 48m in

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

237 mi into trip | ~4h 49m in

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

Towns Along This Route

Between Big Flats, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.

Mt Pocono

124.7 mi in | ~2h 29m | via US 6

Milford

125.5 mi in | ~2h 30m | via I 84; I 380

Newark

217.1 mi in | ~4h 21m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Southern Tier Expressway	70.5 mi	1h 23m
Keystone Shortway	63.3 mi	1h 19m
I 81	53.4 mi	1h 3m
I 380	23.6 mi	25m
Essex Freeway	15.8 mi	20m
I 84	3.7 mi	4m
Holland Tunnel	2 mi	4m
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike	2 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Southern Tier Expressway — 70.5 mi, about 1h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Big Flats, NY and New York City, NY.

Start on Canal Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Canal Street

Turn left onto CR 17

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Maple Street

Turn right onto Bridge Street

375 ft · 12 sec · Bridge Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Merge onto I 86; NY 17

70 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Southern Tier Expressway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81

Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the none 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

63 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the none / straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 49 sec

Exit 47A Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark

Continue on I 280

16 mi · 20 min · Essex Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 17A Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City

Merge onto CR 508

2.0 mi · 3 min · Newark-Jersey City Turnpike

Use the none lane.

Continue on NJ 7

0.5 mi · 43 sec · New Wittpenn Bridge

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Use the straight lane.

Merge onto NJ 139

0.7 mi · 1 min · Conrail Viaduct

Continue on NJ 139

0.4 mi · 32 sec · 12th Street Viaduct

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 78

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 12th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

2.0 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel

Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan

Take the exit

305 ft · 10 sec

Toward Brooklyn Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on Beach Street

121 ft · 7 sec · Beach Street

Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker Street Use the straight lane.

Turn slight right onto Walker Street

0.2 mi · 1 min · Walker Street

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Broadway

0.4 mi · 1 min · Broadway

Use the straight / none lanes.

Arrive at destination

Broadway

Trip Plan

Planning your departure is simple since the 5-hour duration allows for plenty of flexibility. Since the route includes one recommended stop, you can easily break up the journey to stretch your legs or refuel without significantly impacting your arrival time. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you navigate the longer stretches of the Southern Tier Expressway, to ensure you stay within your $38 budget. If you want to avoid peak traffic congestion upon reaching the city, try to time your arrival outside of typical morning or evening rush hours. Use your single planned stop strategically to refresh yourself before tackling the final leg of the drive.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 120.8 miles from Big Flats, NY, or about 2h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 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 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 120.8 miles or 2h 24m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 57m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Big Flats, 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 Big Flats, NY

This is one driving day of about 241.7 miles and 5h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Big Flats, 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 70.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 120.8 mi from Big Flats, NY · 2h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

121 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.

Popular next leg

Ramapo, NY to New York City, NY

37.1 mi · 56m

Pacing Suggestions

Cortland, NY

Fuel and coffee

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

Cortland, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 120.8 miles from Big Flats, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.5 miles.

Arriving in New York City, NY

The final approach into New York City, 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 New York City, 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

$38.15 one way

$76.30 round trip

$4.01/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$42.64	$85.28
premium	$4.86	$46.26	$92.51
diesel	$4.69	$44.67	$89.33

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

$38

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	72.5	0	$25.38	$11.60
Efficient EV	60.4	0	$21.15	$9.67
EV Truck/SUV	96.7	1	$33.84	$15.47

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 hours ago

Origin

Big Flats, NY

Afternoon in Big Flats on Sunday

Local time

4:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New York City, NY

Afternoon in New York City on Sunday

Local time

4:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Sunny

SE 8 to 13 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

121 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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

5h on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Big Flats, NY to New York City, NY covers 241.7 miles and takes about 5h 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 120.8 miles from Big Flats, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

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.

Between Big Flats, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.

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Trip from Big Flats, NY to New York City, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

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 New York City, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Big Flats, NY

New York City, NY

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

5h on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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