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Trip from New York City, NY to Inwood, NY

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

25m

Distance

12.1 mi

19 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 24m ★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m ★

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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most populous city in the United States

New York City, NY

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, suburb of NYC

Inwood, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from the heart of New York City to Inwood, this 12.1-mile journey is an efficient trip that typically takes just 25 minutes. Because of the short duration, this is a perfect single-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of urban roads including West Street, 12th Avenue, and the Henry Hudson Parkway. Budgeting about $2 for fuel should be plenty for this short transit within the Northeast region. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes speed and accessibility over a long-haul experience, making it ideal for a fast commute or a simple change of scenery.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

6.1 miles from New York City, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip features a mixed drive profile, balancing urban surface streets with a significant highway component. You will spend about 54% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 6.6 miles on the Henry Hudson Parkway. The character of the drive shifts as you move from the dense city grid of West Street and 12th Avenue onto the more fluid flow of the parkway. Expect a transition from stop-and-go city navigation to a more consistent pace once you hit the highway portion. It is a functional route that keeps you moving toward your destination without the monotony of long-distance interstate travel.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henry Hudson Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

126 ft 6 ft

Total Climb

182 ft

Total Descent

192 ft

Highest Point

126 ft

~11.1 mi in

Elevation Range

120 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chambers Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 3 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Chambers Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (NY 9A / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

3 of 3 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Chambers Street

Turn right onto Chambers Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | NY 9A / West Street

Turn right onto NY 9A / West Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
11.8 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward Dyckman Street

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 17 Toward Dyckman Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Henry Hudson Parkway 6.6 mi 10m
12th Avenue 1.8 mi 5m
West Street 1.8 mi 5m
West Side Highway 0.8 mi 1m
Chambers Street 0.4 mi 1m
11th Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
Riverside Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Broadway <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Henry Hudson Parkway — 6.6 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Inwood, NY.

1

Start on Broadway

79 ft · 7 sec · Broadway
2

Turn right onto Chambers Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Chambers Street
3

Turn right onto NY 9A

1.8 mi · 5 min · West Street
Use the right lane.
4

Continue on NY 9A

0.4 mi · 1 min · 11th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on NY 9A

1.8 mi · 5 min · 12th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on NY 9A

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Side Highway
7

Continue on HH; NY 9A

6.6 mi · 10 min · Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 35 sec
Exit 17 Toward Dyckman Street Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn straight onto Riverside Drive

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Riverside Drive
10

Turn slight left onto US 9

138 ft · 2 sec · Broadway
11

Arrive at destination

US 9

Trip Plan

Since this is a brief 12.1-mile run, you have the flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows without worrying about complex pacing or rest stops. There are no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, allowing you to drive straight through in under half an hour. Keep in mind that traffic patterns on the Henry Hudson Parkway can fluctuate, so checking real-time conditions before you head out is a smart move. Because the fuel cost is a minimal $2, you do not need to stress about planning stops for gas along the way. Use the short travel time to your advantage by planning your arrival in Inwood during off-peak hours to ensure a smoother transition off the parkway.

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 6.1 miles from New York City, NY, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.6 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 12 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 6.1 miles or 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Inwood, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving New York City, NY.

Day 1

Settle into the route from New York City, NY

This is one driving day of about 12.1 miles and 25m.

At 12.1 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Henry Hudson Parkway for about 6.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.1 mi from New York City, NY · 15m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

The Bronx, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Manhattan, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.1 miles from New York City, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Inwood, NY

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Inwood, NY if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.99 one way

$3.98 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $2.15 $4.31
premium $4.92 $2.35 $4.69
diesel $5.61 $2.67 $5.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.6 0 $1.27 $0.58
Efficient EV 3 0 $1.06 $0.48
EV Truck/SUV 4.8 0 $1.69 $0.77

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 14, 2026

Origin

New York City, NY

Evening in New York City on Wednesday

Local time

7:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Sunny

SW 14 mph 14% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 5:45PM EDT until April 14 at 6:30PM EDT by NWS Albany NY

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:52PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY

Destination

Inwood, NY

Evening in Inwood on Wednesday

Local time

7:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

32 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

25m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from New York City, NY to Inwood, NY covers 12.1 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henry Hudson Parkway, 12th Avenue, West Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.1 miles from New York City, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.99 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 is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 3 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Chambers Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (NY 9A / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from New York City, NY to Inwood, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 6 ft to 126 ft elevation with about 182 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Inwood, NY to New York City, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

12.3 mi 26m

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