Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brooklyn, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Tappan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to escape the city for a quick change of pace, this 34.8-mile trip from Brooklyn to Tappan is an efficient way to head north. You can expect the journey to take about one hour under typical traffic conditions, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $5, this is an incredibly cost-effective excursion for a weekend morning or afternoon. Because you are staying within the Northeast region, the environment remains familiar while transitioning from the dense urban landscape of New York City into the quieter surroundings of Tappan. There are no planned stops on this direct route, allowing you to focus on the transition from the city grid to your destination.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 34.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate out of Brooklyn. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will spend the entire hour on local roads. The nature of this drive is technical and winding rather than fast-paced, so be prepared for frequent turns and changing traffic patterns. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches of road, as the route is characterized by the constant activity of local transit. Keep your hands on the wheel and stay alert, as the absence of highway driving means you are navigating the intricate connections between these two points.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Palisades Interstate Parkway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in near I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 34.8 miles you will encounter 28 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brooklyn, NY and Tappan, NY, road signs point toward La Guardia Airport, Manhattan, Bronx, Randalls Island and Harlem River Drive North.
La Guardia Airport
Manhattan
Bronx
Randalls Island
Harlem River Drive North
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 13.8 mi | 19m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Washington Avenue | 2.6 mi | 6m |
| Harlem River Drive | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Robert F. Kennedy Bridge | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Kings Highway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn, NY and Tappan, NY.
Start on Nostrand Avenue
Turn right onto Snyder Avenue
Turn right onto Rogers Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27
Turn slight right onto NY 27
Turn right onto Flatbush Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Avenue
Turn right onto Flushing Avenue
Turn left onto Classon Avenue
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
Turn right onto Williamsburg Street East
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
Merge onto GCP; I 278
Continue on I 278
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto HRD
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight right at fork onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Take the exit
Turn straight onto NY 303
Turn right onto Kings Highway
Continue on Kings Highway
Turn left onto CR 8
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.4 mi from Brooklyn, NY · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Brooklyn, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Tappan, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.73 one way
$11.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.19 | $12.39 |
| premium | $4.92 | $6.74 | $13.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$16
Total
$22
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Brooklyn on Thursday
Local time
10:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Tappan on Thursday
Local time
10:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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