Trip from Manhattan, NY to Stamford, NY

Drive Time

3h 21m

Distance

149.3 mi

240 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 9m ★

6 AM

3h 21m

8 AM

3h 45m

10 AM

3h 30m

12 PM

3h 27m

3 PM

3h 31m

5 PM

3h 44m

8 PM

3h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Manhattan, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Stamford, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Trading the bustle of Manhattan for the quiet of Stamford, NY, is a journey covering approximately 149.3 miles. You should budget about 3 hours and 21 minutes of driving time, making this a very manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $24 on fuel for the trek. Since the route relies heavily on local roads like West 86th Street, Amsterdam Avenue, and West 96th Street rather than major interstates, your pace will be steady rather than fast. Both your starting point and destination are nestled within the Northeast, ensuring the transition from the city to the countryside is a cohesive regional experience.

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

74.7 miles from Manhattan, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .

Drive Character

Forget about monotonous highway cruising on this trip, as the route features zero percent highway driving. Instead, you will navigate a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because the longest stretch is essentially zero miles on West 86th Street, you can anticipate a constant series of maneuvers rather than long, straight-line segments. This character makes for a more tactile driving experience where you are consistently engaged with the road layout. As you progress through the local streets, the environment shifts significantly from the high-density urban grid of Manhattan toward the more open, local roads leading to Stamford.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 36 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 71 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and State Route 23A. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 149.3 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 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4.9 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward I 95: George Washington Brigde

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 14 Toward I 95: George Washington Brigde

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

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

14.6 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17...

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

Towns Along This Route

Between Manhattan, NY and Stamford, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South, Gsp North, Newark, Mahwah and New York State Thruway North: Albany.

Gsp South

14.6 mi in | ~23m

Gsp North

14.6 mi in | ~23m

Newark

14.6 mi in | ~23m

Mahwah

14.6 mi in | ~23m

New York State Thruway North: Albany

29.8 mi in | ~43m | via NY 17

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
NY 17	71 mi	1h 21m
State Route 23A	17.4 mi	26m
NJ 17	14.7 mi	18m
State Highway 23	13.4 mi	19m
NY 32	8.1 mi	12m
NJ 4	6.7 mi	9m
State Highway 23A	5.2 mi	8m
Main Street	4 mi	8m

Longest stretch: NY 17 — 71 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Stamford, NY.

Start on 86th Street Transverse

0.2 mi · 38 sec · 86th Street Transverse

Continue on West 86th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · West 86th Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Amsterdam Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Amsterdam Avenue

Turn left onto West 96th Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · West 96th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

448 ft · 11 sec

Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway

Merge onto HH; NY 9A

3.5 mi · 5 min · Henry Hudson Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 42 sec

Exit 14 Toward I 95: George Washington Brigde Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey

Merge onto I 95; US 1; US 9

0.4 mi · 43 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

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

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 95 EXPR; NJTP

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Exit 72A Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto NJ 4

6.7 mi · 9 min · NJ 4

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 36 sec

Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto NJ 17

3.3 mi · 4 min · NJ 17

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on NJ 17

7.3 mi · 9 min · NJ 17

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on NJ 17

0.7 mi · 50 sec · NJ 17

Continue on NJ 17

3.3 mi · 4 min · NJ 17

Continue on I 287; NY 17

0.2 mi · 10 sec · I 287; NY 17

Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17

71 mi · 1 hr 21 min · NY 17

Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Exit 20 Toward NY 32: Saugerties

Turn left onto NY 32

0.2 mi · 23 sec · NY 32

Turn straight onto NY 32

7.9 mi · 12 min · NY 32

Turn straight onto NY 23A

1.0 mi · 2 min · State Route 23A

Continue on NY 23A

5.2 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23A

Continue on NY 23A

1.6 mi · 4 min · Main Street

Continue on NY 23A

2.4 mi · 3 min · State Route 23A

Continue on NY 23A

2.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on NY 23A

14 mi · 20 min · State Route 23A

Continue on NY 23

13 mi · 19 min · State Highway 23

Continue on NY 23

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn left onto South Delaware Street

55 ft · 2 sec · South Delaware Street

Arrive at destination

South Delaware Street

Trip Plan

Given the turn-heavy nature of this 3-hour and 21-minute drive, plan your departure for a time when you are alert and comfortable with frequent navigation. You only have one planned stop on this 149.3-mile route, so choose your break point wisely to stretch your legs before the final leg of the journey. Since the drive is entirely local, check your navigation apps frequently, as local road patterns can change unexpectedly compared to predictable interstate travel. Keep your $24 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops, as local gas prices can vary significantly between the city and the more rural stretches near Stamford. Being flexible with your departure time is a major advantage for this trip, allowing you to avoid the worst of local congestion.

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 74.7 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 1h 34m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71 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 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 74.7 miles or 1h 34m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stamford, 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 149.3 miles and 3h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 NY 17 for about 71 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74.7 mi from Manhattan, NY · 1h 34m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

75 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.7 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71 miles.

Arriving in Stamford, NY

The final approach into Stamford, 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 Stamford, 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

$24.31 one way

$48.61 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$26.34	$52.68
premium	$4.88	$28.70	$57.40
diesel	$5.64	$33.17	$66.34

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

$24

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	44.8	$15.68	$7.17
Efficient EV	37.3	$13.06	$5.97
EV Truck/SUV	59.7	$20.90	$9.56

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Manhattan, NY

Evening in Manhattan on Sunday

Local time

7:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Stamford, NY

Evening in Stamford on Sunday

Local time

7:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

75 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

8 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 21m 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 Stamford, NY covers 149.3 miles and takes about 3h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are NY 17, State Route 23A, NJ 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 74.7 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 $24.31 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.