Origin
North Hills, NY
Evening in North Hills on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Hills, NY to New York City, NY
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
35m
Distance
20.5 mi
33 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Hills, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 20.5-mile journey from North Hills to New York City is a straightforward day trip that typically takes about 35 minutes. You will primarily navigate the Long Island Expressway and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway before crossing the Williamsburg Bridge to reach your destination.
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
10.3 miles from North Hills, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 73% of your commute is spent on major transit routes. The longest stretch involves 13 miles on the Long Island Expressway, providing a fast-paced drive that transitions from suburban corridors into the dense urban environment.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Island Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
219 ft
14 ft
Total Climb
109 ft
Total Descent
291 ft
Highest Point
219 ft
~2.6 mi in
Elevation Range
206 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 20.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
13.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
6
14.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
7
14.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
9
17.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Williamsburg Bridge
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
7
19.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
Lafayette Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 North Hills, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Manhattan along the way.
Manhattan
17.2 mi in
|
~25m
|
via Williamsburg Bridge
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 13 mi | 18m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Williamsburg Bridge | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Shelter Rock Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Delancey Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kenmare Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lafayette Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 13 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Hills, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on Shelter Rock Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Shelter Rock Road
2
Turn right onto North Service Road
404 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Service Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 495 West
4
Merge onto I 495
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
11
Continue on Delancey Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on Kenmare Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Kenmare Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Howard Street
510 ft
·
24 sec
·
Howard Street
15
Turn left onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Plan for a quick, non-stop trip since the short duration requires zero scheduled stops. Budget approximately $3 for fuel to cover the distance, and aim to avoid peak rush hours to ensure you maintain that 35-minute travel time.
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 10.3 miles from North Hills, NY, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13 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 20.5 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.3 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving North Hills, NY.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Hills, NY
This is one driving day of about 20.5 miles and 35m.
At 20.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 13 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.3 mi from North Hills, NY · 14m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.3 miles from North Hills, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New York City, NY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into New York City, 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
$3.37 one way
$6.75 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.53 | $9.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.15 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
New York City, NY
Evening in New York City on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 7 to 14 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 7:26PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:25PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
25 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
35m 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 North Hills, NY to New York City, NY covers 20.5 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Williamsburg Bridge. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.3 miles from North Hills, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.37 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 20.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from North Hills, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Manhattan along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 14 ft to 219 ft elevation with about 109 ft of total climbing.
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