Origin
Manhattan, NY
Afternoon in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manhattan, NY to Montour Falls, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 11m
Distance
253.3 mi
408 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
65 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 58m
★
6 AM
5h 12m
8 AM
5h 39m
10 AM
5h 21m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 37m
8 PM
5h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Montour Falls, NY
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
Manhattan, NY to Montour Falls, NY is 253.3 miles and takes about 5h 11m via I 86 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.7 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 60.9 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 44.6 mi | 52m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| Watkins Road | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| NJ 3 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 60.9 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Montour Falls, NY.
1
Start on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
86th Street Transverse
2
Continue on West 86th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 86th Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Columbus Avenue
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Columbus Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on 9th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
9th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto West 41st Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 41st Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto Galvin Avenue
262 ft
·
11 sec
·
Galvin Avenue
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
7
Take the ramp
477 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto NY 495
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto NJ 3
10 mi
·
12 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 46
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 46
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
14
Continue on I 80W
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto I 80
45 mi
·
52 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
20
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
21
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
61 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 52A
Toward NY 14 North, CR 64: Watkins Glen
24
Turn left onto CR 64
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
County Road 64
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
26
Merge onto NY 14
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Westinghouse Road
27
At end of road, turn left onto NY 14
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Watkins Road
28
Continue on NY 14
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
29
Continue on NY 14
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Watkins Road
30
Arrive at destination
NY 14
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider departing from Manhattan in the morning to avoid peak traffic. With a recommended single day for completion, you can easily manage with just one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches on I 86. The $42 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to budget a little extra. Since this is a manageable drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time or stop duration as needed.
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 126.7 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 56 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.7 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montour Falls, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 253.3 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Manhattan, 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 I 86 for about 60.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.7 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 6.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Columbus Avenue
Turn left onto Columbus Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
West 41st Street
Turn right onto West 41st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
6
6.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.69 one way
$83.39 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $45.09 | $90.17 |
| premium | $4.92 | $49.09 | $98.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.93 | $111.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$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
$42
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
65 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hoboken, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Union City, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charge Point
New York, New York
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Denville, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Dover, New Jersey
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Scranton, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Sayre, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Waverly, New York
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 24
Other: 21
EV Connect: 10
Tesla: 5
Electrify America: 2
Blink: 2
InCharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76 | 0 | $26.60 | $12.16 |
| Efficient EV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.16 | $10.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.3 | 1 | $35.46 | $16.21 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Montour Falls, NY
Afternoon in Montour Falls on Saturday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph
0% chance
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
1 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
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily towards highway driving, with 67% of the trip on major interstates. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I 86 and I 81, which offer a consistent and relatively fast pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 60.9 miles on I 86, providing a solid block of driving time. While predominantly highway, the initial and final segments may involve navigating more local roads as you enter and exit the urban environment of Manhattan and approach Montour Falls.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 86 is the longest continuous segment at about 60.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Columbus Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 24 significant decision points across 253.3 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 0.4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West 41st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Montour Falls, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Cr 64: Watkins Glen.
Del Water Gap
27.8 mi in
|
~40m
Mahwah
28 mi in
|
~40m
|
via I 80W
Cr 64: Watkins Glen
239.2 mi in
|
~4h 52m
About the Cities
Starting in Manhattan, NY
Full guide →Founded 1624
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
Arriving in Montour Falls, NY
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 253.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Manhattan, NY to Montour Falls, NY covers 253.3 miles and takes about 5h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 86, I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.7 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 $41.69 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 253.3 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 0.4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West 41st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Manhattan, NY and Montour Falls, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Cr 64: Watkins Glen.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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