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Create accountDrive Time
28m
Distance
12.2 mi
20 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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.
Kensington, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Manhattan, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Kensington, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 12.2 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Street, Prospect Expressway, 12th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 2.4 miles on West Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.99 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
6.1 miles from Kensington, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Expect a 28m drive with frequent turns across 12.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 27 / Church Avenue.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 12.2 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: near the start (NY 27 / Church Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (NY 27 / Prospect Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: 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.
Turn left onto NY 27 / Church Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto NY 27 / Prospect Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward West 79 Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Kensington, NY to Manhattan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Bronx along the way.
Bronx
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Street | 2.4 mi | 6m |
| Prospect Expressway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 12th Avenue | 1.8 mi | 5m |
| West Side Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 86th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 11th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kensington, NY and Manhattan, NY.
Start on Albemarle Road
Turn right onto Coney Island Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27
Turn right onto NY 27
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
At end of road, turn right onto NY 9A
Continue on NY 9A
Continue on NY 9A
Continue on NY 9A
Continue on HH; NY 9A
Take the exit
Turn right onto West 79th Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Turn right onto West 86th Street
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
Arrive at 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 12.2 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.1 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kensington, 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 Kensington, NY
This is one driving day of about 12.2 miles and 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.1 mi from Kensington, NY · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 12.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 6.1 miles from Kensington, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$1.99 one way
$3.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $2.15 | $4.30 |
| premium | $4.88 | $2.35 | $4.69 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.71 | $5.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.28 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.07 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Kensington on Sunday
Local time
4:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Afternoon in Manhattan on Sunday
Local time
4:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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