Origin
Kirkwood, NY
Evening in Kirkwood on Sunday
Local time
8:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirkwood, NY to Brooklyn, NY
Drive Time
3h 43m
Distance
172.9 mi
278 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 31m
★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 9m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkwood, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Brooklyn, NY
Cristian Pedroso
Trip Overview
Traveling from Kirkwood to Brooklyn covers 173 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 13 minutes. This journey is perfectly manageable as a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of $27, it remains a budget-friendly way to navigate across New York State. You will transition from the quiet surroundings of the Northeast region near Kirkwood into the dense urban environment of Brooklyn. Because this is a direct route with no planned stops, you can expect to stay focused on the road for the duration of the trip. It is a straightforward transit that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing.
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
86.4 miles from Kirkwood, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route requires frequent navigation adjustments as you move toward the city. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't be cruising on long, high-speed stretches of pavement. Instead, the character of the road is defined by its technical nature and the constant interaction with local traffic patterns. You will find that the rhythm of the drive changes significantly as you leave the rural setting of Kirkwood and enter the increasingly complex infrastructure leading into Brooklyn.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 63.3 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 48.9 miles in near US 6.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 172.9 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 48.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
48.9 mi into trip
|
~58m 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...
7
160.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m 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
161.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m 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
8
166.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
7
169.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
|
NY 27
Take the exit onto NY 27 toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 24
Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Towns Along This Route
Between Kirkwood, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark, Cr 508 East: Jersey City and Manhattan.
Mt Pocono
48.9 mi in
|
~58m
|
via US 6
Milford
49.6 mi in
|
~59m
|
via I 84; I 380
Newark
141.3 mi in
|
~2h 50m
Cr 508 East: Jersey City
157.8 mi in
|
~3h 12m
Manhattan
163.1 mi in
|
~3h 22m
|
via I 78
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 63.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 81 | 48.4 mi | 57m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Essex Freeway | 15.8 mi | 20m |
| I 84 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Newark-Jersey City Turnpike | 2 mi | 3m |
| Holland Tunnel | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| NY 27 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 63.3 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkwood, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
1
Start on CR 20
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Conklin-Kirkwood Bridge
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
3
Merge onto I 81
48 mi
·
57 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380
Exit 4
Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
8
Merge onto I 80
63 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 47A
Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
10
Continue on I 280
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17A
Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
12
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the straight lane.
17
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Conrail Viaduct
18
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
12th Street Viaduct
Use the none lane.
19
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
21
Take the exit
428 ft
·
14 sec
Toward NY 9A
22
Turn slight left onto Laight Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
23
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit
2.6 mi
·
5 min
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on I 278
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Gowanus Expressway
26
Take the exit onto NY 27
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
NY 27
Exit 24
Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
27
Take the exit onto NY 27
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
NY 27
Exit 5
Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn left onto NY 27
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Caton Avenue
Use the none lane.
29
Continue on NY 27
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Linden Boulevard
Use the left / none lanes.
30
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nostrand Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Nostrand Avenue
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is essential for this 3-hour and 13-minute trek, as local road conditions can fluctuate significantly depending on the time of day. Since there are no scheduled stops in the itinerary, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out, keeping that $27 fuel budget in mind for your planning. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; since the total duration is relatively short, you can adjust your start time to avoid the heaviest local traffic pulses. A concrete tip for this specific route is to keep a close eye on your GPS, as the lack of major highway mileage means you will be relying on local turn-by-turn navigation for the entire 173-mile journey.
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 86.4 miles from Kirkwood, NY, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.4 miles or 1h 41m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, NY
This is one driving day of about 172.9 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kirkwood, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 63.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.4 mi from Kirkwood, NY · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 86.4 miles from Kirkwood, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.3 miles.
Arriving in Brooklyn, NY
The final approach into Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, 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
$28.15 one way
$56.29 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $30.50 | $61.01 |
| premium | $4.88 | $33.24 | $66.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.41 | $76.82 |
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
$28
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.15 | $8.30 |
| Efficient EV | 43.2 | 0 | $15.13 | $6.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.21 | $11.07 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Brooklyn, NY
Evening in Brooklyn on Sunday
Local time
8:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
86 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 43m 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 Kirkwood, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 172.9 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 81, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.4 miles from Kirkwood, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.15 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 23 significant decision points across 172.9 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 48.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kirkwood, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark, Cr 508 East: Jersey City and Manhattan.
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