Clinton, NY to Staten Island, NY is 263 miles and takes about 5h 25m via the New York State Thruway and NJ 17, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Northeast region of New York to another part of the Northeast, ending in Staten Island. Expect a trip that involves a significant amount of highway driving, but also some turn-heavy local segments as you approach your destination. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is manageable for most travelers looking to get from upstate New York to the New York City area.
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
131.5 miles from Clinton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.
Top landmarks
•Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
•Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 263 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only about 15% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time navigating local roads, which means more turns and potentially slower speeds compared to a pure interstate trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 201.9 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a period of consistent highway travel before you transition to more local routes. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that shifts from open highway to more intricate local road navigation as you get closer to Staten Island.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 201.9 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 94.4 miles in near New York State Thruway.
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 32 significant decision points across 263 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 94.4 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 213.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 32 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
94.4 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
9
212.5 mi into trip|~4h 11m 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
213.9 mi into trip|~4h 13m 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
243.8 mi into trip|~4h 51m 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
7
245.3 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clinton, NY and Staten Island, NY, road signs point toward Boston, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken and Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike.
Boston
94.4 mi in|~1h 55m|via New York State Thruway
Jersey City
243.7 mi in|~4h 51m|via US 1; US 9
Pulaski Skyway
243.7 mi in|~4h 51m|via US 1; US 9
Hoboken
243.8 mi in|~4h 51m
Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike
245.3 mi in|~4h 54m|via I 78; NJTP
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
201.9 mi
3h 53m
NJ 17
22.7 mi
29m
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
4.7 mi
5m
NJ 440
4.5 mi
6m
NJ 3
4.2 mi
4m
North-South Arterial Highway
3.8 mi
5m
Tonnelle Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Clinton Road
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 201.9 mi, about 3h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, NY and Staten Island, NY.
1
Start on NY 12B
69 ft·1 sec·South Park Row
2
Continue on NY 12B
0.1 mi·10 sec·South Park Row
3
Continue on NY 12B
2.0 mi·3 min·Utica Street
4
Continue on NY 12B
2.2 mi·3 min·Clinton Road
5
Turn right onto NY 5
3.8 mi·5 min·North-South Arterial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
219 ft·6 sec
8
Turn slight right onto Court Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·Court Street
9
Turn left onto Genesee Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Genesee Street
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 90
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 90 East
12
Merge onto I 90
84 mi·1 hr 36 min·New York State Thruway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 87 South: New York, BostonUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
16
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
23 mi·29 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
18
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi·4 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi·3 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the left lane.
22
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
23
Continue on NJ 139
0.3 mi·27 sec·12th Street Viaduct
24
Take the exit
236 ft·9 sec
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto Jersey Avenue
463 ft·23 sec·Jersey Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139
408 ft·5 sec·14th Street Viaduct
Use the left lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78; NJTP
4.7 mi·5 min·New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
Toward NJTP: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 14AToward NJ 440: BayonneUse the right lane.
29
Continue on Port Jersey Boulevard
0.3 mi·17 sec·Port Jersey Boulevard
Toward NJ 440
30
Take the exit
357 ft·8 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Chosin Few WayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 440 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto NJ 440
4.5 mi·6 min·NJ 440
33
Continue on NY 440
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
34
Take the exit
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 10EToward I 278 East: Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
35
Merge onto I 278
0.8 mi·1 min·Staten Island Expressway
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 11Toward I 278 West: Bradley AvenueUse the slight right lane.
37
Turn straight onto South Gannon Avenue
198 ft·8 sec·South Gannon Avenue
38
Turn right onto Bradley Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Bradley Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Turn slight right onto Brielle Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Brielle Avenue
40
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Rockland Avenue
41
Continue on Richmond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Richmond Road
42
Turn left onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Kensico Street
43
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
284 ft·13 sec·Clarke Avenue
44
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Cotter Avenue
45
Continue on Corona Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Corona Avenue
46
Turn right onto Croft Court
147 ft·6 sec·Croft Court
47
Arrive at destination
Croft Court
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 25m estimated duration, leaving Clinton, NY in the morning will allow you to reach Staten Island within the same day. While the drive is manageable in one go, planning for at least one stop is wise. The longest stretch of highway driving is on the New York State Thruway, so consider taking a break before or after this segment to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition onto NJ 17 and the New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension, as this part of the route may have fewer service areas than the Thruway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 131.5 miles from Clinton, NY, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.9 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 58 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.5 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Staten Island, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clinton, 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 Clinton, NY
This is one driving day of about 263 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Clinton, 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 New York State Thruway for about 201.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 131.5 mi from Clinton, NY
· 2h 38m into the drive
The midpoint is around 131.7 miles from Clinton, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Staten Island, NY
The final approach into Staten Island, 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 Staten Island, NY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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.
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 245.2
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 245.2
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 245.2
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 245.2
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 245.2
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 245.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.29 one way
$86.58 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$46.81
$93.62
premium
$4.92
$50.97
$101.95
diesel
$5.61
$58.07
$116.13
Estimated Tolls: $10.74
New York State Thruway
(201.9 mi)$10.09
New Jersey Turnpike
(4.7 mi)$0.65
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
$43
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.9
0
$27.61
$12.62
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.01
$10.52
EV Truck/SUV
105.2
1
$36.82
$16.83
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Clinton, NY
Morning
in Clinton on Saturday
Local time
9:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Staten Island, NY
Morning
in Staten Island on Saturday
Local time
9:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
8 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
5h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clinton, NY to Staten Island, NY covers 263 miles and takes about 5h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, NJ 17, New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131.5 miles from Clinton, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 32 significant decision points across 263 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 94.4 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 213.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Clinton, NY and Staten Island, NY, road signs point toward Boston, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken and Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike.
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.
