Drive Time
48m
Distance
17.8 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Navigating from Brooklyn to Washington Heights covers 17.8 miles within New York, making it a straightforward urban journey that easily fits into a single day. You should anticipate a travel time of approximately 48 minutes, though local traffic patterns will dictate your actual pace. This route relies entirely on local streets rather than highways, utilizing roads like Snyder Avenue, Rogers Avenue, and Linden Boulevard to cross the city. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly trip that requires no overnight stops. Because the entire drive remains within the Northeast region, you won't encounter significant climate or terrain shifts. It is a practical, no-frills transit between two distinct boroughs that requires your full attention on city navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.9 miles from Brooklyn, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy, local-focused drive that demands constant engagement with your surroundings. Because the highway share is 0%, you will spend the entire 17.8 miles navigating through dense city blocks and intersections. There is no longest uninterrupted stretch to speak of, as the nature of these city streets requires frequent stops and adjustments. The personality of this drive is strictly functional, prioritizing connectivity over speed or scenic highway cruising. You will feel the pulse of the city as you transition from the neighborhood streets of Brooklyn through the urban grid toward Washington Heights.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Snyder Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rogers Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Linden Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Caton Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Flatbush Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Flushing Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Classon Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
Start on Nostrand Avenue
Turn right onto Snyder Avenue
Turn right onto Rogers Avenue
Turn left onto Linden Boulevard
Turn slight right onto Caton Avenue
Turn right onto Flatbush Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on 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 slight left toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, La Guardia Airport
Merge slight left onto Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Merge slight left onto Grand Central Parkway
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Take the exit slight right toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
Keep slight left to continue on Manhattan, Randalls Island
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Keep slight right to continue on Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Harlem River Drive North
Merge slight right onto Harlem River Drive
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street
Keep slight left to continue on Amsterdam Avenue, West 179th Street, Yeshiva University
Turn right onto Amsterdam Avenue
Turn left onto West 179th Street
Turn right onto Wadsworth Avenue
Turn left onto West 181st Street
Arrive at your destination
Given the local nature of this 48-minute commute, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak rush hours is always a smart move to keep your travel time consistent. Since there are no planned stops on this 17.8-mile stretch, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave; at a $3 fuel cost, it is a minor expense to manage. Keep your focus sharp, as the turn-heavy profile requires you to stay alert for frequent navigation changes along Snyder, Rogers, and Linden. Use your GPS actively to manage the complex city grid, as the lack of highway signage means you are relying solely on local street markers to reach your destination.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 17.8 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.9 miles or 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington Heights, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, NY
This is one driving day of about 17.8 miles and 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.9 mi from Brooklyn, NY · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 17.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.9 miles from Brooklyn, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Washington Heights, 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 Washington Heights, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.81 one way
$5.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $3.14 | $6.28 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.41 | $6.81 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $3.29 | $6.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$3
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Brooklyn on Saturday
Local time
11:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Washington Heights on Saturday
Local time
11:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
57°F
Richmond Hill, NY
9 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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