The drive from Manhattan, NY to Colton, NY covers 331.8 miles and takes about 7h 11m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NY 17, Adirondack Northway, State Highway 28N for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.7 miles on NY 17.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.62 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
165.9 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village.
The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
Top landmarks
•Empire State Building — skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 11m. Total distance: 331.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 7h 11m highway drive covering 331.8 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and Adirondack Northway. The longest continuous stretch is about 111.7 miles on NY 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 54 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 111.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and Adirondack Northway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 331.8 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 31 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
7.5 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
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.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
9
7.7 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
8
14.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
8
29.8 mi into trip|~43m in|NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17 toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State...
8
141.5 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 23
Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manhattan, NY and Colton, NY, road signs point toward New York State Thruway North: Albany, Troy, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls and Minerva.
New York State Thruway North: Albany
29.8 mi in|~43m|via NY 17
Troy
141.5 mi in|~2h 52m
Saratoga Springs
151.1 mi in|~3h 5m
Glens Falls
154.5 mi in|~3h 10m
Minerva
226.3 mi in|~4h 34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
111.7 mi
2h 8m
Adirondack Northway
71 mi
1h 22m
State Highway 28N
30.3 mi
43m
State Highway 56
23.1 mi
34m
Adirondack Trail
19.3 mi
27m
State Route 3
14.8 mi
20m
NJ 17
14.7 mi
18m
I 787
9 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 111.7 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Colton, NY.
1
Start on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi·38 sec·86th Street Transverse
2
Continue on West 86th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·West 86th Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto Amsterdam Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Amsterdam Avenue
4
Turn left onto West 96th Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·West 96th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
448 ft·11 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
6
Merge onto HH; NY 9A
3.5 mi·5 min·Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 14Toward I 95: George Washington BrigdeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey
9
Merge onto I 95; US 1; US 9
0.4 mi·43 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
10
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 72AToward NJ 4 West: ParamusUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi·9 min·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, MahwahUse the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: MahwahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi·9 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi·50 sec·NJ 17
21
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
22
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi·10 sec·I 287; NY 17
23
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
112 mi·2 hr 8 min·NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 23Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, TroyUse the slight right lane.
25
Continue on I 787
9.0 mi·12 min·I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 787
0.4 mi·29 sec·NY 787
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 9WToward NY 7 West: Schenectady, Saratoga SpringsUse the right lane.
28
Merge onto NY 7
3.1 mi·3 min·NY 7
29
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 North: Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls
30
Merge onto I 87
71 mi·1 hr 22 min·Adirondack Northway
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 26Toward US 9: Pottersville, Minerva
32
Turn left onto Valley Farm Road
0.4 mi·50 sec·Valley Farm Road
33
At end of road, turn right onto US 9
0.2 mi·32 sec·US 9
34
Turn slight left onto CR 19
4.8 mi·7 min·Olmstedville Road
35
Continue on CR 29
1.2 mi·1 min·County Highway 29
36
Keep slight right at fork onto Donnelly Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Donnelly Road
37
Continue on CR 30
2.8 mi·4 min·A P Morse Highway
38
Turn straight onto NY 28N
30 mi·41 min·State Highway 28N
39
Continue on NY 28N
2.5 mi·3 min·Newcomb Road
40
Continue on NY 28N
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 28N
41
Turn right onto NY 30
0.4 mi·52 sec·Adirondack Trail
42
Turn slight left onto NY 30
0.3 mi·39 sec·Lake Street
43
Continue on NY 30
18 mi·25 min·Adirondack Trail
44
Continue on NY 30
0.5 mi·46 sec·Moody Road
45
Continue on NY 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Adirondack Trail
46
Continue on NY 30
1.9 mi·3 min·Wawbeek Avenue
47
Turn right onto NY 30
0.2 mi·33 sec·Park Street
48
Turn left onto NY 3
282 ft·13 sec·Mill Street
49
Turn right onto NY 3
0.1 mi·24 sec·Lake Street
50
Continue on NY 3
1.2 mi·2 min·Demars Boulevard
51
Continue on NY 3
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
52
Continue on NY 3
15 mi·20 min·State Route 3
53
Turn right onto NY 56
23 mi·34 min·State Highway 56
54
Arrive at destination
NY 56
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.9 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.7 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 73 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.9 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colton, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manhattan, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 331.8 miles and 7h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Manhattan, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 111.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 165.9 mi from Manhattan, NY
· 3h 23m into the drive
The midpoint is around 165.9 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colton, NY
The final approach into Colton, 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 Colton, NY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.62 one way
$109.23 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$59.06
$118.12
premium
$4.92
$64.31
$128.62
diesel
$5.61
$73.26
$146.51
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$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
$55
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.5
1
$34.84
$15.93
Efficient EV
83
0
$29.03
$13.27
EV Truck/SUV
132.7
1
$46.45
$21.24
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Manhattan, NY
Morning
in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
11:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colton, NY
Morning
in Colton on Saturday
Local time
11:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 11m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Manhattan, NY to Colton, NY covers 331.8 miles and takes about 7h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, Adirondack Northway, State Highway 28N. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 165.9 miles from Manhattan, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 331.8 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Manhattan, NY and Colton, NY, road signs point toward New York State Thruway North: Albany, Troy, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls and Minerva.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
