The drive from Bushwick, NY to Brighton, NY covers 318.8 miles and takes about 6h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, New York State Thruway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
159.4 miles from Bushwick, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 51m. Total distance: 318.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 51m drive with frequent turns across 318.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 97.3 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 5.3 miles in near Lafayette Street.
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 42 significant decision points across 318.8 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 5.3 miles (Lafayette Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 42 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
5.3 mi into trip|~14m in|Lafayette Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
5.8 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey
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 I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey
7
9.2 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 1-9 North: Secausus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1-9 North: Secausus
7
275.4 mi into trip|~5h 58m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
318.2 mi into trip|~6h 50m in
Take the exit toward University Avenue, Winton Road
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 20
Toward University Avenue, Winton Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bushwick, NY and Brighton, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Albany.
Del Water Gap
33.5 mi in|~52m
Mahwah
33.8 mi in|~52m|via I 80W
Albany
184 mi in|~3h 52m|via I 81
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
97.3 mi
1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway
44.6 mi
52m
New York State Thruway
30.3 mi
34m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
Eastern Expressway
11.3 mi
13m
NJ 3
10.9 mi
13m
US 46
10.8 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bushwick, NY and Brighton, NY.
1
Start on Linden Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·Linden Street
2
Turn left onto Wilson Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Wilson Avenue
3
Turn left onto Myrtle Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Myrtle Avenue
4
Turn right onto Bushwick Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Bushwick Avenue
5
Turn left onto Grand Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Grand Street
6
Continue on Borinquen Place
0.4 mi·1 min·Borinquen Place
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward Williamsburg BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto Williamsburg Bridge
0.2 mi·21 sec·Williamsburg Bridge
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
1.2 mi·2 min·Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
10
Continue on Delancey Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on Kenmare Street
0.2 mi·57 sec·Kenmare Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
222 ft·11 sec·Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Broome Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Broome Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on Watts Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Watts Street
15
Take the exit
383 ft·13 sec
Toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 78
1.8 mi·3 min·Holland Tunnel
17
Continue on I 78
0.4 mi·1 min·14th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139
0.3 mi·24 sec·14th Street Viaduct
Toward NJ 139 West: Pulaski Skyway, Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City
19
Continue on NJ 139
0.8 mi·1 min·NJ 139 Lower Level
20
Continue on NJ 139
406 ft·7 sec·Pulaski Skyway
21
Take the exit
420 ft·14 sec
Toward US 1-9 North: SecaususUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
2.6 mi·3 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto NJ 3
11 mi·13 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto US 46
11 mi·12 min·US 46
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
26
Continue on I 80W
1.6 mi·1 min·Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, MahwahUse the straight / slight left lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water GapUse the straight / slight left lanes.
28
Merge onto I 80
45 mi·52 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
31
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
32
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
33
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
36
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
37
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
38
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
39
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
40
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
41
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
42
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
43
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
44
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
45
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
46
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
47
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
48
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
49
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
50
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
51
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
52
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
53
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
54
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
55
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
56
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
57
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
58
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 45Toward I 490: RochesterUse the slight right lane.
59
Continue on I 490
11 mi·13 min·Eastern Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
60
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 20Toward University Avenue, Winton RoadUse the slight right lane.
61
Turn straight onto University Avenue
333 ft·10 sec·University Avenue
62
Turn right onto North Winton Road
453 ft·9 sec·North Winton Road
63
Turn right onto Halstead Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·Halstead Street
64
Turn sharp left
177 ft·13 sec
65
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 159.4 miles from Bushwick, NY, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 70 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.4 miles or 3h 23m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brighton, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bushwick, 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 Bushwick, NY
This is one driving day of about 318.8 miles and 6h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Bushwick, 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 I 81 for about 97.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 159.4 mi from Bushwick, NY
· 3h 23m into the drive
The midpoint is around 159.4 miles from Bushwick, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Brighton, NY
The final approach into Brighton, 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 Brighton, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 274.9
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.48 one way
$104.95 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$56.74
$113.49
premium
$4.92
$61.79
$123.58
diesel
$5.61
$70.39
$140.77
Estimated Tolls: $17.52
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(30.3 mi)$1.52
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
$52
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.6
1
$33.47
$15.30
Efficient EV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.75
EV Truck/SUV
127.5
1
$44.63
$20.40
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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
Bushwick, NY
Morning
in Bushwick on Saturday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brighton, NY
Morning
in Brighton on Saturday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
15 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 51m 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 Bushwick, NY to Brighton, NY covers 318.8 miles and takes about 6h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, New York State Thruway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 159.4 miles from Bushwick, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.48 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 42 significant decision points across 318.8 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 5.3 miles (Lafayette Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bushwick, NY and Brighton, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Albany.
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.
