Origin
Nelson, NY
Afternoon in Nelson on Saturday
Local time
2:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nelson, NY to New York City, 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
240.8 mi
387 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 58m
★
6 AM
5h 11m
8 AM
5h 38m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 37m
8 PM
5h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nelson, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Nelson, NY to New York City, NY covers 240.8 miles and takes about 5h 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, State Highway 8, NJ 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106 miles on NY 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.64 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.4 miles from Nelson, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 106 mi | 2h 12m |
| State Highway 8 | 36.8 mi | 41m |
| NJ 17 | 22.7 mi | 29m |
| New York State Thruway | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| US 20 | 10.8 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 12 | 10.2 mi | 15m |
| Rexford Street | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| State Route 12B | 6.6 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 106 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nelson, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on US 20
11 mi
·
15 min
·
US 20
2
Continue on NY 46
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 46
3
Continue on NY 12B
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 12B
4
Continue on NY 12B
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Utica Street
5
Turn slight right onto NY 12B
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
6
Continue on NY 12B
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 12B
7
Continue on NY 12B
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
8
Continue on NY 12B
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 12B
9
Continue on NY 12B
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
10
Continue on NY 12
10 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 12
11
Continue on NY 12
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broad Street
12
Turn left onto NY 23
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Rexford Street
13
Turn right onto NY 8
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 8
14
Continue on NY 8
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Airport Road
15
Continue on NY 8
19 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 8
16
Continue on NY 8; NY 10
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Oak Street
17
Continue on NY 8; NY 10
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
State Highway 10
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward NY 17 East
19
Merge onto NY 17
105 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 87
14 mi
·
15 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 17
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Use the slight right lane.
24
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
25
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
23 mi
·
29 min
·
NJ 17
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
27
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Use the left lane.
31
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Conrail Viaduct
32
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
12th Street Viaduct
33
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
35
Take the exit
305 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft
·
7 sec
·
Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker Street
Use the straight lane.
37
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
39
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
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 120.4 miles from Nelson, NY, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106 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 53 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.4 miles or 2h 35m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nelson, 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 Nelson, NY
This is one driving day of about 240.8 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Nelson, 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 106 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.1 miles from Nelson, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 195 decision points cluster between mile 189.9 and 236.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
189.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
7
190.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
9
205.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
|
NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
206.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m in
|
NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
236.4 mi into trip
|
~5h in
Take the exit toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.64 one way
$79.27 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $42.86 | $85.72 |
| premium | $4.92 | $46.67 | $93.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.17 | $106.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.68
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(13.7 mi)
$0.68
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
$40
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.2 | 0 | $25.28 | $11.56 |
| Efficient EV | 60.2 | 0 | $21.07 | $9.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.3 | 1 | $33.71 | $15.41 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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
New York City, NY
Afternoon in New York City on Saturday
Local time
2:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Monticello, NY
120 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
2 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
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.
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...
0 mi from route
Free
near mile 234.3
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 234.3
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...
1 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 234.3
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 234.3
View on nps.gov
Governors Island National Monument
National Monument
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 234.3
View on nps.gov
Statue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 234.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 5h 11m highway drive covering 240.8 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and State Highway 8. The longest continuous stretch is about 106 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 39 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 106 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and State Highway 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 189.9 miles in.
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 19 significant decision points across 240.8 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 189.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Nelson, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Nyst: Albany along the way.
Nyst: Albany
189.9 mi in
|
~4h 2m
About the Cities
Arriving in New York City, NY
Full guide →“The City That Never Sleeps” · Founded 1624
New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation. From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.
Top landmarks
- • Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
- • National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
- • Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
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: 240.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Nelson, NY to New York City, NY covers 240.8 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 NY 17, State Highway 8, 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 120.4 miles from Nelson, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.64 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 19 significant decision points across 240.8 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 189.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Nelson, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Nyst: Albany along the way.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From New York City, NY
More trips to New York City, NY
Explore more options from Nelson, NY or browse trips ending in New York City, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.