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Create accountDrive Time
4h 42m
Distance
222.4 mi
358 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ithaca, NY
Beth Fitzpatrick
New York City, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
If you are planning to travel from Ithaca to New York City, expect a straightforward journey covering 222.4 miles. You can realistically complete this drive in about 4 hours and 42 minutes, making it an ideal day trip if you get an early start. Budget approximately $35 for fuel to cover the distance across the Northeast. While the route is manageable in a single day, the transition from the Finger Lakes region toward the dense urban environment of NYC is significant. This highway-focused trip is efficient, allowing you to prioritize your destination time over the transit itself.
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
111.2 miles from Ithaca, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
This 222.4-mile trek is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 61% of your time spent on major interstates. You will navigate via I-81, the Keystone Shortway, and I-380, providing a consistent pace throughout the journey. Be prepared for a sustained stint behind the wheel, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 73.5 miles on I-81. The road maintains a steady, functional personality that prioritizes speed and directness as you move through the Northeast. Expect a reliable experience that shifts from the more open terrain of upstate New York to the increasingly busy infrastructure leading into the city.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,689 ft
Total Descent
2,656 ft
Highest Point
1,840 ft
~129.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,820 ft
Notable High Points
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near NY 79 / East State Street.
Complex — stay alert throughout
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 222.4 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 0.5 miles (NY 79 / East State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Lane positioning matters here
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Between Ithaca, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
Mt Pocono
Milford
Newark
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 73.5 mi | 1h 28m |
| Keystone Shortway | 63.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Essex Freeway | 15.8 mi | 20m |
| State Highway 79 | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Slaterville Road | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| I 84 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 3.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ithaca, NY and New York City, NY.
Start on NY 79
Turn right onto North Tioga Street
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
Turn right onto Schuyler Place
At end of road, turn left onto NY 79
Continue on NY 79
Continue on NY 79
Continue on NY 79
Turn right onto NY 26
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 280
Take the exit
Merge onto CR 508
Continue on NJ 7
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight
Merge onto NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Continue on I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
Take the exit
Continue on Beach Street
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
Turn right onto Broadway
Arrive at destination
For the smoothest experience, plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly five-hour duration. Because the route relies heavily on major interstates, keep a close eye on traffic reports, especially as you approach the metropolitan area. Leaving Ithaca early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid peak congestion during the final leg of the trip. With a fuel budget of $35, filling up before you hit the high-traffic zones near New York City can help you avoid potentially higher gas prices closer to your arrival point. Use the flexibility of this one-day trip to time your entry into the city based on your personal comfort with urban driving.
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.
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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.2 miles or 2h 18m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ithaca, 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 Ithaca, NY
This is one driving day of about 222.4 miles and 4h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.2 mi from Ithaca, NY · 2h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 111.2 miles from Ithaca, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.5 miles.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$35.10 one way
$70.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $39.24 | $78.47 |
| premium | $4.86 | $42.56 | $85.12 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $41.10 | $82.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.14
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
$35
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.7 | 0 | $23.35 | $10.68 |
| Efficient EV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.46 | $8.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89 | 1 | $31.14 | $14.23 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Ithaca on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Rain Showers
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Evening in New York City on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
111 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
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.
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