Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
63 mi
101 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Cold Spring, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
This straightforward 63-mile drive from New York City to Cold Spring, NY, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 28 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is heavily focused on highways, with 75% of the journey on major roadways, and is estimated to cost around $10 in fuel. You'll primarily navigate the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the Garden State Parkway before transitioning to NJ 17. Given its short duration and highway-centric profile, this trip is ideal for a quick escape from the city without needing an overnight stay. The entire journey stays within the Northeast region, offering a familiar driving experience.
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 63 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 63-mile route, with 75% of your travel time spent on major parkways and highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.3 miles on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the transition through NJ 17 might introduce slightly different road characteristics. This drive is designed for efficiency, allowing you to cover ground quickly with minimal deviations.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Palisades Interstate Parkway and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63 miles you will encounter 25 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 1-9 North: Secausus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New York City, NY and Cold Spring, NY, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Palisades Parkway North and Bear Mountain.
Gsp Toll North
Palisades Parkway North
Bear Mountain
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 18.3 mi | 21m |
| Garden State Parkway | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| NJ 17 | 9.2 mi | 10m |
| Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway | 5.3 mi | 9m |
| NJ 3 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 9D | 3 mi | 5m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| New York State Thruway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Cold Spring, NY.
Start on Broadway
Turn right onto Chambers Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Turn left onto Reade Street
Turn right onto Hudson Street
Keep slight right at fork onto Hudson Street
Take the exit
Merge onto I 78
Continue on I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Turn straight onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 87; I 287
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Enter roundabout onto US 6; US 202
Continue on US 6; US 202
Turn left onto NY 9D
Continue on NY 9D
Continue on NY 9D
Continue on NY 9D
Continue on NY 9D
Continue on NY 9D
Continue on NY 9D
Turn right onto NY 301
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.5 mi from New York City, NY · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from New York City, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cold Spring, 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.
Regular Gas
$10.37 one way
$20.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $11.21 | $22.43 |
| premium | $4.92 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.91 | $27.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$17
Total
$27
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.51 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.82 | $4.03 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in New York City on Saturday
Local time
4:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Cold Spring on Saturday
Local time
4:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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