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Trip from Central Valley, NY to Brooklyn, NY

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

Drive Time

1h 25m

Distance

59 mi

95 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 19m ★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m

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

Downtown Central Valley, NY, NY

Central Valley, NY

Olivia Chen

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Brooklyn, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Central Valley to Brooklyn is a straightforward 61.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $10 for fuel, making this an economical choice for a quick trip between the Hudson Valley and the city. While the drive is short, the transition from the quieter Central Valley area into the dense urban environment of Brooklyn requires patience. Keep in mind that this route consists entirely of local roads, so your travel time may fluctuate depending on traffic density throughout the region.

About the Cities

Starting in Central Valley, NY

Full guide →

Central Valley and Harriman are neighboring towns in Orange County, New York.

Arriving 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 25m. Total distance: 59 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this route features zero highway miles, forcing you to navigate through various local corridors and turns. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, the character of the drive remains constant and technical from start to finish. You will find yourself maneuvering through changing road conditions as you head south toward the city. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where your focus will shift frequently as you transition between local segments.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.

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 59 miles you will encounter 21 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 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 Toll South: New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
9
16.4 mi into trip | ~21m in | NY 17

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
17.8 mi into trip | ~22m in | NJ 17

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
47.7 mi into trip | ~1h in

Take the exit toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
52.4 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Central Valley, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken and Manhattan.

Jersey City

47.6 mi in | ~1h | via US 1; US 9

Pulaski Skyway

47.6 mi in | ~1h | via US 1; US 9

Hoboken

47.7 mi in | ~1h

Manhattan

49.3 mi in | ~1h 4m | via I 78

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 17 22.7 mi 29m
New York State Thruway 13.7 mi 15m
NJ 3 4.2 mi 4m
Tonnelle Avenue 2.6 mi 3m
Holland Tunnel 1.9 mi 4m
NY 27 1.8 mi 3m
State Route 32 1.3 mi 2m
Caton Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: NJ 17 — 22.7 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CR 9

64 ft · 5 sec · Smith Clove Road
2

Turn left onto NY 32

1.2 mi · 2 min · State Route 32
3

Continue on NY 32

484 ft · 15 sec · State Route 32
Toward NY 17 South Use the straight lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec
Toward I 87, NYST Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 87

14 mi · 15 min · New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17

0.9 mi · 59 sec · NY 17
Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on I 287; NJ 17

0.5 mi · 39 sec · I 287; NJ 17
9

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17

23 mi · 29 min · NJ 17
Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
11

Merge onto NJ 3

4.2 mi · 4 min · NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on US 1; US 9

2.5 mi · 3 min · Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel Use the left lane.
15

Merge onto NJ 139

0.7 mi · 1 min · Conrail Viaduct
16

Continue on NJ 139

0.4 mi · 32 sec · 12th Street Viaduct
17

Continue on I 78

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

1.9 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
19

Take the exit

428 ft · 14 sec
Toward NY 9A
20

Turn slight left onto Laight Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
21

At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Street
Use the straight lane.
22

Take the exit

2.6 mi · 5 min
Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn Use the left lane.
23

Continue on I 278

0.6 mi · 50 sec · Gowanus Expressway
24

Take the exit onto NY 27

1.5 mi · 2 min · NY 27
Exit 24 Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway Use the slight left / straight lanes.
25

Take the exit onto NY 27

0.4 mi · 47 sec · NY 27
Exit 5 Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center Use the slight right lane.
26

Turn left onto NY 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27

Continue on NY 27

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28

Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Nostrand Avenue
29

Arrive at destination

Nostrand Avenue

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.5 mi from Central Valley, NY · 37m into the drive

city in Westchester County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Yonkers, NY

30 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

Yonkers, NY to Brooklyn, NY

24.3 mi · 44m

Pacing Suggestions

Sloatsburg, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yonkers, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Central Valley, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brooklyn, NY

The final approach into Brooklyn, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.71 one way

$19.42 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $10.50 $21.00
premium $4.92 $11.44 $22.87
diesel $5.61 $13.03 $26.05

Estimated Tolls: $16.68

Holland Tunnel $16.00
New York State Thruway (13.7 mi) $0.68

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$17

Total

$26

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.7 0 $6.19 $2.83
Efficient EV 14.8 0 $5.16 $2.36
EV Truck/SUV 23.6 0 $8.26 $3.78

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 14, 2026

Origin

Central Valley, NY

Late night in Central Valley on Saturday

Local time

3:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brooklyn, NY

Late night in Brooklyn on Saturday

Local time

3:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 3 to 12 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:13PM EDT until April 16 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

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

22 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 25m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Central Valley, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 59 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are NJ 17, New York State Thruway, NJ 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 29.5 miles from Central Valley, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Central Valley, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken and Manhattan.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.

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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