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Create accountDrive Time
7h 58m
Distance
395.5 mi
636 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New York City, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Leon, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from New York City, NY to Leon, NY covers 395.5 miles and takes about 7h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, US 219, Christopher Columbus Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 200 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $64.39 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
197.7 miles from New York City, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 52m into the drive .
Expect a 7h 58m drive with frequent turns across 395.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,627 ft
Total Descent
2,282 ft
Highest Point
2,225 ft
~296.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,191 ft
Notable High Points
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 35 significant decision points across 395.5 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles (NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct toward NJ 139 West: Pulaski Skyway, Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
Turn right onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Between New York City, NY and Leon, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Penfield.
Del Water Gap
Mahwah
Penfield
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 200 mi | 3h 44m |
| US 219 | 46.5 mi | 53m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 44.6 mi | 52m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 25.5 mi | 29m |
| NJ 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| Bennetts Valley Highway | 10.5 mi | 16m |
| Million Dollar Highway | 8.3 mi | 12m |
Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Leon, 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
Merge onto US 46
Take the exit
Continue on I 80W
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto PA 153
Turn right onto PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Turn straight onto PA 255
Continue on PA 120; PA 255
Turn right onto PA 120; PA 255
Turn left onto PA 120; PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Turn left onto PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 219
Keep slight right at fork onto US 219
Take the exit onto US 219
Merge onto I 86; US 219; NY 17
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn left onto NY 241
Continue on NY 241
Continue on NY 241
Continue on NY 241
Turn right onto US 62
Turn left onto CR 6
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 87 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 197.7 miles or 3h 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 6h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leon, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving New York City, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New York City, NY
This is one driving day of about 395.5 miles and 7h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 197.7 mi from New York City, NY · 3h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
198 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 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 197.7 miles from New York City, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 200 miles.
The final approach into Leon, 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 Leon, NY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$64.39 one way
$128.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $69.77 | $139.55 |
| premium | $4.88 | $76.03 | $152.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $87.87 | $175.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$64
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118.6 | 1 | $41.53 | $18.98 |
| Efficient EV | 98.9 | 1 | $34.61 | $15.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 158.2 | 1 | $55.37 | $25.31 |
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in New York City on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Leon on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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