The drive from Manhattan, NY to Sparrow Bush, NY covers 72.4 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NJ 23, Clove Avenue, NJ 3 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.5 miles on NJ 23.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.92 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.
Midpoint
36.2 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 72.4 miles, with most of the trip on NJ 23 and Clove Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.5 miles on NJ 23.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 23 and Clove Avenue. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Manhattan, NY to Sparrow Bush, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Butler along the way.
Butler
20.7 mi in|~32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NJ 23
34.5 mi
47m
Clove Avenue
12.3 mi
17m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
US 46
3.7 mi
4m
Lincoln Tunnel
3.4 mi
6m
East Main Street
2 mi
2m
Park Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
Columbus Avenue
1.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
NJ 23
— 34.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Sparrow Bush, 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 JerseyUse 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: SecaucusUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft·7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: CliftonUse 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
3.7 mi·4 min·US 46
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
14
Merge onto NJ 23
4.6 mi·5 min·NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on NJ 23
30 mi·41 min·NJ 23
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on NJ 23
0.1 mi·7 sec·Loomis Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on NJ 23
0.2 mi·14 sec·Bank Street
18
Continue on NJ 23
12 mi·17 min·Clove Avenue
19
Continue on CR 15
0.3 mi·27 sec·CR 15
Use the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
2.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn straight onto NY 42; NY 97
1.9 mi·2 min·Park Avenue
22
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
23
Turn right onto Upper Brook Road
29 ft·1 sec·Upper Brook Road
24
Arrive at destination
Upper Brook Road
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.2 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 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 16 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.2 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sparrow Bush, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 72.4 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Manhattan, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NJ 23 for about 34.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.2 mi from Manhattan, NY
· 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sparrow Bush, NY
The final approach into Sparrow Bush, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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
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...
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...
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
$11.92 one way
$23.83 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$12.89
$25.77
premium
$4.92
$14.03
$28.06
diesel
$5.61
$15.99
$31.97
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
$12
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.7
0
$7.60
$3.48
Efficient EV
18.1
0
$6.34
$2.90
EV Truck/SUV
29
0
$10.14
$4.63
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Manhattan, NY
Late night
in Manhattan on Friday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sparrow Bush, NY
Late night
in Sparrow Bush on Friday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
7 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
1h 44m 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 Manhattan, NY to Sparrow Bush, NY covers 72.4 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 23, Clove Avenue, NJ 3. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.2 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 $11.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
On the drive from Manhattan, NY to Sparrow Bush, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Butler along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Stonewall National Monument and African Burial Ground National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
