Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
159.6 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Cohoes, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 159.6 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mohawk Street, Cohoes Boulevard, I 87 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.8 miles from Cohoes, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 39m drive with frequent turns across 159.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mohawk Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cohoes Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 87 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New York State Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 287 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NJ 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NJ 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Cohoes, NY and Manhattan, NY.
Start on Mohawk Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto Mohawk Street
Turn right onto Cohoes Boulevard
Merge slight right
Continue on I 87 Toll: New York State Thruway
Keep slight left to continue on I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Take the exit slight right toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
Keep slight left to continue on NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology
Continue on West 79th Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Turn right onto West 86th Street
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
Arrive at 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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cohoes, 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 Cohoes, NY
This is one driving day of about 159.6 miles and 2h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.8 mi from Cohoes, NY · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 79.8 miles from Cohoes, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.19 one way
$50.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $28.16 | $56.31 |
| premium | $4.86 | $30.54 | $61.09 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $29.49 | $58.99 |
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
$25
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.76 | $7.66 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.34 | $10.21 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 Cohoes on Saturday
Local time
10:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
10:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
80 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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