Origin
Northwest Harbor, NY
Afternoon in Northwest Harbor on Friday
Local time
3:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northwest Harbor, NY to Manhattan, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
104.9 mi
169 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northwest Harbor, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Northwest Harbor, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 104.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway, Montauk Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.7 miles on Long Island Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52.5 miles from Northwest Harbor, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Northwest Harbor, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 104.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 34 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 51.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in near NY 27 / Montauk Highway.
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 24 significant decision points across 104.9 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 5 miles (NY 27 / Montauk Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
NY 27 / Montauk Highway
Merge onto NY 27 / Montauk Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
43.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 57N
Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
8
99.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16
Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point...
6
100 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
Hunters Point Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
102.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
|
NY 25
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25 toward 60th Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 60th Street West
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 Northwest Harbor, NY to Manhattan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 16 West: Yaphank along the way.
Cr 16 West: Yaphank
43.3 mi in
|
~1h 13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 51.7 mi | 1h 10m |
| Sunrise Highway | 24.2 mi | 31m |
| Montauk Highway | 8.6 mi | 17m |
| County Road 39A | 5.5 mi | 11m |
| Horseblock Road | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Stephen Hands Path | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| Old Northwest Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 51.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northwest Harbor, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on this road
0.4 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Northwest Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Old Northwest Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Northwest Road
4
Continue on Old Northwest Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Old Northwest Road
5
Continue on Stephen Hands Path
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Stephen Hands Path
6
Turn right
54 ft
·
7 sec
7
Turn left
35 ft
·
1 sec
8
Turn right onto Stephen Hands Path
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Stephen Hands Path
9
Merge onto NY 27
8.6 mi
·
17 min
·
Montauk Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto NY 27
372 ft
·
7 sec
·
NY 27
Toward NY 27 West: New York
11
Merge onto NY 27; CR 39A
5.5 mi
·
11 min
·
County Road 39A
12
Continue on NY 27
24 mi
·
31 min
·
Sunrise Highway
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 57N
Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 56
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Victory Avenue
15
Turn right onto CR 16
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
18
Merge onto I 495
52 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 16
Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard
80 ft
·
2 sec
·
Laurel Hill Boulevard
21
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hunters Point Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Van Dam Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Dam Street
23
Continue on Van Dam Street
113 ft
·
8 sec
·
Van Dam Street
24
Turn left onto NY 25
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Queens Boulevard
25
Continue on NY 25
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
·
Queensboro Plaza
26
Continue on NY 25
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level
27
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25
317 ft
·
11 sec
·
NY 25
Toward 60th Street West
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn left onto East 60th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East 60th Street
29
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Avenue
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
East 72nd Street
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto Madison Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Avenue
32
Turn left onto East 85th Street
507 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 85th Street
33
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
86th Street Transverse
Toward West Side
34
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 52.5 miles from Northwest Harbor, NY, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.7 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 23 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Northwest Harbor, 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 Northwest Harbor, NY
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Northwest Harbor, 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 Long Island Expressway for about 51.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.5 mi from Northwest Harbor, NY · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.5 miles from Northwest Harbor, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Manhattan, NY
The final approach into Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.27 one way
$34.53 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $18.67 | $37.34 |
| premium | $4.92 | $20.33 | $40.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.16 | $46.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.01 | $5.04 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42 | 0 | $14.69 | $6.71 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Afternoon in Manhattan on Friday
Local time
3:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brookhaven, NY
52 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
2h 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Northwest Harbor, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 104.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway, Montauk Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.5 miles from Northwest Harbor, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.27 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 104.9 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 5 miles (NY 27 / Montauk Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Northwest Harbor, NY to Manhattan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 16 West: Yaphank 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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