Cooperstown, NY to Manhattan, NY is 189 miles and takes about 4 hours 23 minutes via NY 17 and NJ 17, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey takes you from the Northeast region of New York to the Northeast region of New York, specifically Manhattan. Expect a drive primarily on highways, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is ideal for a quick transition between upstate and the city.
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
94.5 miles from Cooperstown, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Cooperstown, in Central New York, is known best for its role as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The villagers believe that Abner Doubleday invented baseball on a cow pasture within the village in 1839. (The actual origins of baseball are uncertain but surely date back earlier.)
Cooperstown is also known for the Glimmerglass Opera Festival which is the finest of its kind in Upstate New York and even beats the only permanent opera company in this area, Syracuse Opera.
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village.
The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 189 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is largely highway-focused, with 77% of the drive utilizing major roads like NY 17 and NJ 17. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for most of the trip, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 70.1 miles on NY 17. While the profile suggests a highway-centric experience, be prepared for the transition as you approach your destination. The journey offers a practical path with minimal detours, allowing for steady progress.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 53 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 70.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and State Highway 28. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 73 miles in.
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 33 significant decision points across 189 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 73 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 142.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
73 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the ramp toward NY 17 East: New York City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NY 17 East: New York City
8
142.4 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
9
157.6 mi into trip|~3h 36m 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
159 mi into trip|~3h 38m 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
182.5 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cooperstown, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Davenport, Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Davenport
22.5 mi in|~32m|via NY 28
Nyst: Albany
142.4 mi in|~3h 18m
New York City
142.4 mi in|~3h 18m
Gsp South: Paterson
173.1 mi in|~3h 57m
Fort Lee
173.1 mi in|~3h 57m
New York
173.1 mi in|~3h 57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
70.1 mi
1h 23m
State Highway 28
20.2 mi
29m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
State Highway 206
13.7 mi
24m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
Franklin-Walton Road
9 mi
12m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
NY 357
6.4 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cooperstown, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on Pioneer Street
6 ft·2 sec·Pioneer Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto NY 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Chestnut Street
4
Continue on NY 28
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 28
5
Continue on NY 28
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
6
Continue on NY 28
7.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 28
7
Continue on NY 28
1.3 mi·1 min·Gersoni Road
8
Take the ramp onto NY 28
4.8 mi·5 min·NY 28
9
Take the exit onto NY 28
0.3 mi·38 sec·NY 28
Exit 15Toward NY 23, NY 28 South: Oneonta, Davenport
10
Turn left onto NY 23; NY 28
0.2 mi·38 sec·James F. Lettis Highway
11
Turn right onto NY 28
5.6 mi·7 min·State Highway 28
12
Continue on NY 357
6.4 mi·10 min·NY 357
13
Turn slight left onto CR 21
9.0 mi·12 min·Franklin-Walton Road
14
Continue on CR 21
3.6 mi·4 min·West Brook Road
15
Continue on CR 21
0.1 mi·20 sec·Franklin Road
16
Turn right onto CR 21
0.9 mi·2 min·Townsend Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto NY 10; NY 206
242 ft·8 sec·Delaware Street
18
Turn right onto NY 206
0.1 mi·18 sec·Bridge Street
Use the right lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto NY 206
0.9 mi·1 min·Stockton Avenue
20
Continue on NY 206
9.0 mi·16 min·State Highway 206
21
Continue on NY 30; NY 206
0.3 mi·47 sec·Bridge Street
22
Continue on NY 30; NY 206
2.8 mi·4 min·State Highway 30
23
Turn right onto NY 206; CR 7
4.6 mi·8 min·Cat Hollow Road
24
Continue on NY 206; CR 7
4.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 206
25
Continue on NY 206; CR 91
1.6 mi·2 min·Rockland Road
26
Continue on NY 206; CR 179
0.3 mi·33 sec·Old Route 17
27
Turn right onto CR 124
0.2 mi·21 sec·Stewart Avenue
28
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward NY 17 East: New York CityUse the left lane.
29
Merge onto NY 17
69 mi·1 hr 22 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
32
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
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.
34
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
35
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
38
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
39
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
41
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
43
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi·45 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
44
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 9
Exit 1AToward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, DowntownUse the straight lane.
47
Merge onto HH; NY 9A
4.2 mi·6 min·Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
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 TechnologyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Continue on West 79th Street
0.2 mi·51 sec·West 79th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
50
Turn left onto Broadway
0.4 mi·56 sec·Broadway
51
Turn right onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West 86th Street
52
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi·35 sec·86th Street Transverse
Toward East SideUse the straight / left lanes.
53
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 23 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving early to avoid potential traffic, especially as you get closer to Manhattan. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of over 70 miles, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before hitting that 70.1-mile stretch on NY 17, as services can vary.
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 94.5 miles from Cooperstown, NY, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 42 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.5 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cooperstown, 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 Cooperstown, NY
This is one driving day of about 189 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Cooperstown, 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 NY 17 for about 70.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.5 mi from Cooperstown, NY
· 2h 20m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 191.1
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 191.1
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 191.1
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 191.1
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 191.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.11 one way
$62.22 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$33.64
$67.28
premium
$4.92
$36.63
$73.26
diesel
$5.61
$41.73
$83.46
Estimated Tolls: $16.68
George Washington Bridge
$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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.7
0
$19.85
$9.07
Efficient EV
47.3
0
$16.54
$7.56
EV Truck/SUV
75.6
0
$26.46
$12.10
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cooperstown, NY
Late night
in Cooperstown on Saturday
Local time
1:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Late night
in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
1:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Monticello, NY
95 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
11 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
4h 23m 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 Cooperstown, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 189 miles and takes about 4h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, State Highway 28, NJ 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.5 miles from Cooperstown, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.11 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 33 significant decision points across 189 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 73 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 142.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cooperstown, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Davenport, Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall 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.
