Origin
Freedom, NY
Evening in Freedom on Sunday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Freedom, NY to New York City, NY
Drive Time
7h 3m
Distance
339.1 mi
546 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 52m
★
6 AM
7h 3m
8 AM
7h 26m
10 AM
7h 11m
12 PM
7h 9m
3 PM
7h 12m
5 PM
7h 25m
8 PM
6h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Freedom, NY
Paula Nardini
New York City, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Traveling from Freedom to New York City covers 339.1 miles and typically requires about 7 hours and 3 minutes of time behind the wheel. Because this journey is predominantly a highway-focused drive, it is manageable as a one-day trip for most drivers. You should budget approximately $54 for fuel to complete the trek. Utilizing the Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I-81, you will navigate across the Northeast region. While it is possible to power through in a single day, be prepared for a full day of travel that requires focused attention on the road.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
169.5 miles from Freedom, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
With 75% of this route consisting of highway driving, you can expect a consistent pace throughout the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 140.6 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway. This portion of the trip sets a steady rhythm before transitioning onto I-81 and the Keystone Shortway. Rather than technical, winding local roads, this drive prioritizes efficiency and movement. Expect a straightforward interstate experience that allows you to make reliable progress toward the city.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern Tier Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 140.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 168.8 miles in near I 81.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 339.1 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 168.8 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 222.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 226.6 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
168.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m in
|
I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
222.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
|
US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
6
226.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 4
Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
7
334.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m in
Take the exit toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
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 NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
334.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Towns Along This Route
Between Freedom, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
Mt Pocono
222.1 mi in
|
~4h 31m
|
via US 6
Milford
222.9 mi in
|
~4h 32m
|
via I 84; I 380
Newark
314.5 mi in
|
~6h 23m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 140.6 mi | 2h 44m |
| Keystone Shortway | 63.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Essex Freeway | 15.8 mi | 20m |
| Freedom Rushford | 11 mi | 16m |
| NY 19 | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| I 84 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Southern Tier Expressway
— 140.6 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Freedom, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on CR 23
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Freedom Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto NY 98
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 98
3
Turn straight onto NY 243
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Freedom Rushford
4
At end of road, turn right onto NY 19
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
NY 19
5
Turn left onto CR 16
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
County Highway 16
6
Continue on West Main Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
7
Enter roundabout onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Main Street
8
Continue on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Main Street
9
Turn right onto Peacock Hill Road
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Peacock Hill Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
11
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
141 mi
·
2 hr 44 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
Use the none lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
Use the none lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380
Exit 4
Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
17
Merge onto I 80
63 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 47A
Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
19
Continue on I 280
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the none lane.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17A
Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
21
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the none lane.
22
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the straight lane.
26
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Conrail Viaduct
27
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
12th Street Viaduct
Use the none lane.
28
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
30
Take the exit
305 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft
·
7 sec
·
Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker Street
Use the straight lane.
32
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight / none lanes.
34
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
To keep your drive comfortable, plan for at least two stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the route is over seven hours, leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and navigate potential congestion near your destination. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer highway segments to ensure you aren't caught searching for a station during the 140.6-mile stretch. Because this is a single-day trip, maintaining a steady pace without rushing will make the 339.1-mile distance feel much more manageable. Use the flexibility of your two planned stops to time your arrival in NYC during a period that suits your comfort level.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.5 miles from Freedom, NY, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.6 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 80 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.5 miles or 3h 29m 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 New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Freedom, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Freedom, NY
This is one driving day of about 339.1 miles and 7h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Freedom, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Southern Tier Expressway for about 140.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 169.5 mi from Freedom, NY · 3h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
170 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 169.5 miles from Freedom, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.6 miles.
Arriving in New York City, NY
The final approach into New York City, 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 New York City, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.20 one way
$110.41 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
119 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $59.82 | $119.65 |
| premium | $4.88 | $65.19 | $130.38 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $75.34 | $150.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.14
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.14
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
$55
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 101.7 | 1 | $35.61 | $16.28 |
| Efficient EV | 84.8 | 0 | $29.67 | $13.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 135.6 | 1 | $47.47 | $21.70 |
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% 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.
Destination
New York City, NY
Evening in New York City on Sunday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
7 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
7h 3m 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 Freedom, NY to New York City, NY covers 339.1 miles and takes about 7h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 169.5 miles from Freedom, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.20 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 26 significant decision points across 339.1 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 168.8 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 222.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 226.6 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Freedom, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
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