Drive Time
52m
Distance
19.5 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Gravesend, NY to Washington Heights, NY covers 19.5 miles and takes about 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue U, Coney Island Avenue, Church Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.17 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
9.8 miles from Gravesend, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Expect a 52m drive with frequent turns across 19.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Gravesend, NY to Washington Heights, NY is easy. At 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gravesend, NY to Washington Heights, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue U | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Coney Island Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Church Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Prospect Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 278 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gowanus Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hugh L Carey Tunnel | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NY 9A North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Gravesend, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
Start on Ocean Parkway
Turn right onto Avenue U
Turn left onto Coney Island Avenue
Turn left onto Church Avenue
Turn right onto Prospect Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on I 278 East: Queens, Bronx
Merge slight left onto Gowanus Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge
Turn right onto West Street
Continue on 11th Avenue
Continue on 12th Avenue
Continue on West Side Highway
Continue on Henry Hudson Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward I 95: George Washington Brigde
Keep slight right to continue on West 178th Street
Continue on West 178th Street
Turn left onto Wadsworth Avenue
Turn left onto West 181st Street
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 19.5 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.8 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington Heights, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gravesend, 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 Gravesend, NY
This is one driving day of about 19.5 miles and 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.8 mi from Gravesend, NY · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 9.8 miles from Gravesend, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Washington Heights, 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 Washington Heights, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$3.17 one way
$6.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $3.44 | $6.88 |
| premium | $4.88 | $3.75 | $7.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.33 | $8.66 |
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
$3
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.05 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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 Gravesend on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
New York City, NY
10 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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