Traveling from Bristol to Manhattan covers 323.6 miles across the Northeast, a journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 29 minutes of active drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a direct interstate sprint, it is best suited as a full-day commitment. You should budget approximately $51 for fuel to complete the trip. While it is technically possible to complete this in a single day, the winding nature of the roads requires your full attention, so plan for a long day behind the wheel. Assessing your energy levels is important, as the navigation through local corridors can be more taxing than standard highway cruising.
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
150.5 miles from Bristol, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 29m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 35m. Total distance: 300.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a very different experience than a typical highway commute, as this route consists entirely of local roads with zero highway share. The drive is defined by its turn-heavy personality, requiring you to navigate frequent changes in direction rather than settling into a cruise-control rhythm. Without long, uninterrupted stretches of interstate, you will spend the majority of your time managing the nuances of local road conditions. This persistent engagement keeps the drive active and varied, though it demands more focus than a straight-shot parkway trip. Prepare for a technical drive that prioritizes navigation precision over speed.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 65 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 80 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 175.8 miles in near US 6.
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 37 significant decision points across 300.9 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 175.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 37 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
175.8 mi into trip|~3h 59m 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...
8
290.3 mi into trip|~6h 15m 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...
9
290.6 mi into trip|~6h 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
8
294.5 mi into trip|~6h 22m in|US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th...
8
294.9 mi into trip|~6h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downt...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bristol, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono and Milford.
Mt Pocono
175.8 mi in|~3h 59m|via US 6
Milford
176.5 mi in|~4h|via I 84; I 380
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 81
73.5 mi
1h 28m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
State Highway 96A
17.1 mi
23m
State Highway 79
15.2 mi
17m
Routes 5 and 20
11.2 mi
17m
Slaterville Road
11.1 mi
16m
Trumansburg Road
8.8 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 80 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on CR 2
1.6 mi·3 min·County Road 2
2
Continue on Fisher Hill Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Fisher Hill Road
3
Turn left onto CR 32
3.9 mi·5 min·Bristol Road
4
Turn right onto US 20; NY 5; NY 21
1.6 mi·2 min·US 20; NY 5; NY 21
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 20; NY 5
2.0 mi·3 min·Eastern Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 20; NY 5
11 mi·17 min·Routes 5 and 20
7
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi·1 min·Canandaigua Road
8
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.4 mi·3 min·Hamilton Street
9
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.1 mi·1 min·Lake Front Drive
10
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.6 mi·2 min·Waterloo-Geneva Road
11
Turn right onto NY 96A
10 mi·14 min·State Highway 96A
12
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 96A
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 96A
13
Continue on NY 96A
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Street
14
Continue on NY 96
485 ft·13 sec·North Town Line Road
15
Continue on NY 96
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 96
16
Turn left onto Center Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Center Road
17
Turn right onto NY 89
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 89
18
Turn right onto CR 141
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 141
19
Continue on CR 141A
1.5 mi·2 min·Powell Road
20
Turn left onto NY 96
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 96
21
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi·11 sec·Trumansburg Road
22
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
23
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi·12 min·Trumansburg Road
24
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi·2 min·Cliff Street
25
Continue on NY 96
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Buffalo Street
26
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
523 ft·24 sec·Taughannock Boulevard
27
Turn left onto NY 79
510 ft·11 sec·West State Street
28
Turn right onto NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79
345 ft·12 sec·South Fulton Street
Use the right lane.
29
Turn left onto NY 79
0.8 mi·2 min·West Green Street
Use the slight left lane.
30
Continue on NY 79
1.1 mi·2 min·East State Street
31
Continue on NY 79
11 mi·16 min·Slaterville Road
32
Continue on NY 79
15 mi·17 min·State Highway 79
33
Continue on NY 79
3.1 mi·3 min·Main Street
34
Turn right onto NY 26
0.6 mi·47 sec·NY 26
35
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 South
36
Merge onto I 81
20 mi·24 min·I 81
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
38
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.
39
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.
40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
41
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
42
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
44
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
46
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
48
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
49
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
50
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
51
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
53
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
55
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi·45 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
56
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 9
Exit 1AToward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, DowntownUse the straight lane.
59
Merge onto HH; NY 9A
4.2 mi·6 min·Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
60
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 TechnologyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Continue on West 79th Street
0.2 mi·51 sec·West 79th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
62
Turn left onto Broadway
0.4 mi·56 sec·Broadway
63
Turn right onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West 86th Street
64
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi·35 sec·86th Street Transverse
Toward East SideUse the straight / left lanes.
65
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 29-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and navigate local traffic patterns effectively. Since this route lacks major highway segments, you will find fewer large-scale rest stops, so keep a close eye on your fuel gauge and refill well before you reach the $51 estimated threshold. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; take short, frequent breaks to stretch, especially since the constant turning can be physically demanding. Because the entire 323.6-mile trip relies on local roads, verify your GPS settings before leaving to ensure you are prepared for the frequent turns ahead. Staying alert and pacing yourself will make this long, winding route much more manageable.
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 150.5 miles from Bristol, NY, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 66 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 3h 29m 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 23m
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 Bristol, 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 Bristol, NY
This is one driving day of about 300.9 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Bristol, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 80 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.5 mi from Bristol, NY
· 3h 29m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.53 one way
$99.06 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$53.56
$107.12
premium
$4.92
$58.32
$116.64
diesel
$5.61
$66.43
$132.87
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
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
$50
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.3
1
$31.59
$14.44
Efficient EV
75.2
0
$26.33
$12.04
EV Truck/SUV
120.4
1
$42.13
$19.26
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bristol, NY
Morning
in Bristol on Friday
Local time
7:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Morning
in Manhattan on Friday
Local time
7:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live 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
9 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
6h 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 Bristol, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 300.9 miles and takes about 6h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 81, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.5 miles from Bristol, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.53 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 37 significant decision points across 300.9 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 175.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bristol, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono and Milford.
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.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
