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Trip from Brooklyn, NY to Tappan, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 55m ★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m

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

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Brooklyn, NY

Wikimedia Commons

census designated place in Rockland County, New York, United States

Tappan, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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.

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Palisades Interstate Parkway — 13.8 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn, NY and Tappan, NY.

1

Start on Nostrand Avenue

432 ft · 21 sec · Nostrand Avenue
2

Turn right onto Snyder Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Snyder Avenue
3

Turn right onto Rogers Avenue

0.3 mi · 59 sec · Rogers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn left onto NY 27

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5

Turn slight right onto NY 27

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Caton Avenue
6

Turn right onto Flatbush Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Flatbush Avenue
7

Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Avenue

2.6 mi · 6 min · Washington Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
8

Turn right onto Flushing Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Flushing Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9

Turn left onto Classon Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Classon Avenue
Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto Kent Avenue

227 ft · 5 sec · Kent Avenue
11

Turn right onto Williamsburg Street East

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Williamsburg Street East
Use the right lane.
12

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, La Guardia Airport
13

Merge onto I 278

2.0 mi · 3 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 278

3.5 mi · 5 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 278

1.1 mi · 2 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto GCP; I 278

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grand Central Parkway
17

Continue on I 278

1.6 mi · 2 min · Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 46 Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island Use the slight right lane.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 46 Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
20

Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
21

Keep slight right at fork

127 ft · 3 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue Use the slight right lane.
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive North Use the slight right lane.
23

Merge onto HRD

2.3 mi · 3 min · Harlem River Drive
24

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 24 Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street Use the slight left lane.
25

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level) Use the slight left lane.
27

Merge onto I 95; US 1

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
28

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.6 mi · 59 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
29

Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.5 mi · 48 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
30

Keep slight right at fork onto Palisades Interstate Parkway

14 mi · 19 min · Palisades Interstate Parkway
Exit 74 Toward Palisades Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Exit 5S Toward NY 303 South: Tappan Use the right lane.
32

Turn straight onto NY 303

0.5 mi · 47 sec · NY 303
33

Turn right onto Kings Highway

0.6 mi · 1 min · Kings Highway
34

Continue on Kings Highway

265 ft · 8 sec · Kings Highway
35

Turn left onto CR 8

118 ft · 2 sec · Washington Street
36

Arrive at destination

CR 8

Where to Stop

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

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

The Bronx, NY

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.

Popular next leg

The Bronx, NY to Tappan, NY

21.3 mi · 33m

Pacing Suggestions

South Nyack, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

The Bronx, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Brooklyn, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 18 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
10.1 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan...
8
13.6 mi into trip | ~27m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46 Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
8
14.6 mi into trip | ~29m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street,...
8
17.3 mi into trip | ~34m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 24 Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washingto...
9
18 mi into trip | ~35m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washingto...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.73 one way

$11.46 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
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

George Washington Bridge $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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Brooklyn, NY

Afternoon in Brooklyn on Saturday

Local time

2:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Mostly Cloudy

E 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

Destination

Tappan, NY

Afternoon in Tappan on Saturday

Local time

2:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

7 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

1h on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.8 mi on Palisades Interstate Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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.

Driving Effort 10/10

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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

4.6 mi in | ~11m

Manhattan

10.1 mi in | ~21m | via I 278

Bronx

10.1 mi in | ~21m | via I 278

Randalls Island

13.6 mi in | ~27m

Harlem River Drive North

14.6 mi in | ~29m

About the Cities

Starting in Brooklyn, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1634

Brooklyn, the "Borough of Homes and Churches," is one of the five boroughs of New York City. It used to be a separate city, and still feels much like one. It has about 2.5 million inhabitants. If separated from the rest of New York City, Brooklyn would be the 4th most populous American city. Brooklyn is on the westernmost point of Long Island and shares a land boundary with Queens, which partially encircles Brooklyn to the north, east and south; Manhattan lies across the East River to the west and north of Brooklyn, and Staten Island is across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the southwest. Brooklyn is enjoying a period of growth and affluence not seen since before World War II. The Brooklyn Academy of Music boasts world-class theater performances, and the nearby Barclays Center is the home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.

Top landmarks

  • Brooklyn Bridge — bridge in New York City, crossing the East River
  • Brooklyn Museum — art museum in Brooklyn, New York

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 13.8 miles on Palisades Interstate Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tappan, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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.

Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, African Burial Ground National Monument and General Grant National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tappan, NY before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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