Origin
Jefferson, NY
Late night in Jefferson on Thursday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, NY to Manhattan, NY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
157.9 mi
254 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 24m
★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 1m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 42m
3 PM
3h 46m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Jefferson to Manhattan covers a distance of 159.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 7 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should plan for a full day of travel rather than a quick sprint. Budgeting approximately $25 for fuel is a safe estimate for the trip. Since the route stays entirely within the Northeast region of New York, you will notice a consistent regional character from start to finish. It is easily manageable as a single-day journey, though the technical nature of the roads means you should be prepared for active driving throughout the duration.
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 miles from Jefferson, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a far more engaging experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate primarily via Highway 10, Lake Street, and Harper Street, making for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. The personality of this trip is defined by its constant shifts rather than long, monotonous stretches of pavement. Behind the wheel, you will feel the transitions between these local roads, which keep the journey dynamic compared to typical high-speed corridors. Because the route lacks traditional highway stretches, you should anticipate a slower, more deliberate pace as you make your way toward Manhattan.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 70.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 126.6 miles in near NY 17.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 157.9 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 126.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.5 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
126.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m 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
128 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m 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
151.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m 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...
7
151.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
8
151.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downt...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jefferson, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Gsp South: Paterson
142 mi in
|
~3h 9m
Fort Lee
142 mi in
|
~3h 9m
New York
142 mi in
|
~3h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 70.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| State Route 23A | 17.4 mi | 26m |
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| State Highway 23 | 13.4 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 10 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| King's Highway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 23A | 5.2 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 70.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on CR 2A
78 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Harpersfield Road
2
Continue on NY 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 10
3
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 10
4
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 10
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 10
5
Continue on NY 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
6
Turn left onto NY 23
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Harper Street
7
Turn slight right onto NY 23
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
8
Continue on NY 23
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 23
9
Continue on NY 23
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 23
10
Continue on NY 23A
14 mi
·
20 min
·
State Route 23A
11
Continue on NY 23A
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
12
Continue on NY 23A
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 23A
13
Continue on NY 23A
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
14
Continue on NY 23A
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 23A
15
Continue on NY 23A
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 23A
16
Turn slight right onto NY 32A
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
State Route 32A
17
Continue on NY 32A
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 32A
18
Continue on NY 32
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
King's Highway
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
20
Merge onto I 87
71 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 17
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 17
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
26
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4
Use the right lane.
27
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
29
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 EXPR
31
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
32
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 9
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
Use the straight lane.
35
Merge onto HH; NY 9A
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
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 Technology
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on West 79th Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
West 79th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Turn left onto Broadway
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Broadway
39
Turn right onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 86th Street
40
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
86th Street Transverse
Toward East Side
Use the straight / left lanes.
41
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Trip Plan
Since this 159.5-mile drive is quite technical, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic, which can turn a 3-hour journey into a much longer ordeal. You only need to plan for one stop to manage the drive comfortably, giving you plenty of flexibility in how you pace your day. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the local road navigation can be more unpredictable than highway driving. A practical tip for this specific route is to stay alert for the turns on Highway 10 and Harper Street, as the lack of highway segments means you will be making frequent navigational decisions. Prioritize comfort and alertness to ensure you reach Manhattan feeling refreshed.
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 79 miles from Jefferson, NY, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 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 35 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 1h 54m 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 53m
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 Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, NY
This is one driving day of about 157.9 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Jefferson, 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 New York State Thruway for about 70.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79 mi from Jefferson, NY · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79 miles from Jefferson, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.5 miles.
Arriving in Manhattan, NY
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.99 one way
$51.98 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $28.10 | $56.21 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.60 | $61.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.86 | $69.72 |
Estimated Tolls: $19.53
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(70.5 mi)
$3.53
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
$26
Tolls
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.58 | $7.58 |
| Efficient EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.82 | $6.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.11 | $10.11 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Late night in Manhattan on Thursday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jefferson, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 157.9 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, State Route 23A, NJ 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79 miles from Jefferson, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.99 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 157.9 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 126.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.5 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Jefferson, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
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