The drive from Ontario County, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 293.4 miles and takes about 6h 34m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, Keystone Shortway, I 380 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.5 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.30 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
146.7 miles from Ontario County, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 34m. Total distance: 293.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 34m drive with frequent turns across 293.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 64 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 73.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 116.1 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort10/10
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 37 significant decision points across 293.4 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 116.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 37 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
7
281.5 mi into trip|~6h 8m in
Take the exit toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
281.7 mi into trip|~6h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
8
286.8 mi into trip|~6h 21m in
Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ontario County, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.
Mt Pocono
169.4 mi in|~3h 49m|via US 6
Milford
170.2 mi in|~3h 50m|via I 84; I 380
Newark
261.8 mi in|~5h 41m
Cr 508 East: Jersey City
278.3 mi in|~6h 2m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
73.5 mi
1h 28m
Keystone Shortway
63.3 mi
1h 19m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
State Highway 96A
17.1 mi
23m
Essex Freeway
15.8 mi
20m
State Highway 79
15.2 mi
17m
Routes 5 and 20
11.2 mi
17m
Slaterville Road
11.1 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 73.5 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ontario County, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
1
Start on this road
138 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Middle Cheshire Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Middle Cheshire Road
3
Turn right onto US 20; NY 5; NY 21
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Boulevard
4
Continue on US 20; NY 5
2.0 mi·3 min·Eastern Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 20; NY 5
11 mi·17 min·Routes 5 and 20
6
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi·1 min·Canandaigua Road
7
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.4 mi·3 min·Hamilton Street
8
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.1 mi·1 min·Lake Front Drive
9
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.6 mi·2 min·Waterloo-Geneva Road
10
Turn right onto NY 96A
10 mi·14 min·State Highway 96A
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 96A
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 96A
12
Continue on NY 96A
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Street
13
Continue on NY 96
485 ft·13 sec·North Town Line Road
14
Continue on NY 96
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 96
15
Turn left onto Center Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Center Road
16
Turn right onto NY 89
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 89
17
Turn right onto CR 141
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 141
18
Continue on CR 141A
1.5 mi·2 min·Powell Road
19
Turn left onto NY 96
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 96
20
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi·11 sec·Trumansburg Road
21
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
22
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi·12 min·Trumansburg Road
23
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi·2 min·Cliff Street
24
Continue on NY 96
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Buffalo Street
25
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
523 ft·24 sec·Taughannock Boulevard
26
Turn left onto NY 79
510 ft·11 sec·West State Street
27
Turn right onto NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79
345 ft·12 sec·South Fulton Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto NY 79
0.8 mi·2 min·West Green Street
Use the slight left lane.
29
Continue on NY 79
1.1 mi·2 min·East State Street
30
Continue on NY 79
11 mi·16 min·Slaterville Road
31
Continue on NY 79
15 mi·17 min·State Highway 79
32
Continue on NY 79
3.1 mi·3 min·Main Street
33
Turn right onto NY 26
0.6 mi·47 sec·NY 26
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 South
35
Merge onto I 81
20 mi·24 min·I 81
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
40
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
41
Merge onto I 80
63 mi·1 hr 19 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Take the exit
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 47AToward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
43
Continue on I 280
16 mi·20 min·Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 17AToward CR 508 East: Jersey City
45
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi·3 min·Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi·43 sec·New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the slight right lane.
48
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
49
Turn straight
0.3 mi·35 sec
Use the straight lane.
50
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
51
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
52
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
1.9 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
54
Take the exit
428 ft·14 sec
Toward NY 9A
55
Turn slight left onto Laight Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
56
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
0.9 mi·2 min·West Street
Use the straight lane.
57
Take the exit
2.6 mi·5 min
Exit 2Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, BrooklynUse the left lane.
58
Continue on I 278
0.6 mi·50 sec·Gowanus Expressway
59
Take the exit onto NY 27
1.5 mi·2 min·NY 27
Exit 24Toward NY 27 East: Prospect ExpresswayUse the slight left / straight lanes.
60
Take the exit onto NY 27
0.4 mi·47 sec·NY 27
Exit 5Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical CenterUse the slight right lane.
61
Turn left onto NY 27
1.2 mi·2 min·Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
62
Continue on NY 27
0.4 mi·31 sec·Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
63
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Nostrand Avenue
64
Arrive at destination
Nostrand Avenue
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 146.7 miles from Ontario County, NY, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.5 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 65 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.7 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ontario County, 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 Ontario County, NY
This is one driving day of about 293.4 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Ontario County, 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 I 81 for about 73.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.7 mi from Ontario County, NY
· 3h 22m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 283.3
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 283.3
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 283.3
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 283.3
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 283.3
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 283.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.30 one way
$96.59 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$52.22
$104.45
premium
$4.92
$56.87
$113.73
diesel
$5.61
$64.78
$129.56
Estimated Tolls: $16.14
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
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
$48
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88
1
$30.81
$14.08
Efficient EV
73.4
0
$25.67
$11.74
EV Truck/SUV
117.4
1
$41.08
$18.78
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Ontario County, NY
Morning
in Ontario County on Friday
Local time
10:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brooklyn, NY
Morning
in Brooklyn on Friday
Local time
10:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
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
49 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
6h 34m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ontario County, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 293.4 miles and takes about 6h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Keystone Shortway, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.7 miles from Ontario County, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.30 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 37 significant decision points across 293.4 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 116.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ontario County, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.
Yes. Nearby national parks include African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Stonewall National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
