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Create accountDrive Time
30m
Distance
14.2 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
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.
Manhattan, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Kensington, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Manhattan, NY to Kensington, NY covers 14.2 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on FDR Drive, NY 27, East 79th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7 miles on FDR Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.31 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
7.1 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Expect a 30m drive with frequent turns across 14.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
129 ft
Total Descent
190 ft
Highest Point
126 ft
~12.4 mi in
Elevation Range
123 ft
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 around 0.6 miles in near East 79th Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 14.2 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: at 0.6 miles (East 79th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles (NY 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto East 79th Street
Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit onto NY 27 toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto NY 27 toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto NY 27 / Coney Island Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Between Manhattan, NY and Kensington, NY, road signs point toward Fdr Drive South and Brooklyn.
Fdr Drive South
Brooklyn
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| FDR Drive | 7 mi | 13m |
| NY 27 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East 79th Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| 86th Street Transverse | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Caton Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Coney Island Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Kensington, NY.
Start on 86th Street Transverse
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
Turn left onto East 79th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto FDR
Take the exit
Continue on I 278
Take the exit onto NY 27
Take the exit onto NY 27
Turn left onto NY 27
Turn right onto NY 27
Turn left onto Turner Place
Turn left onto Stratford Road
Turn left onto Albemarle Road
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 14.2 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.1 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kensington, NY than in the middle of the route.
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 14.2 miles and 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.1 mi from Manhattan, NY · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 14.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 7.1 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Kensington, 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 Kensington, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.31 one way
$4.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $2.51 | $5.01 |
| premium | $4.88 | $2.73 | $5.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.15 | $6.31 |
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: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Manhattan on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:11AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Afternoon in Kensington on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:11AM 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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