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Trip from Orleans, NY to Manhattan, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 13m

Distance

311.7 mi

502 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 0m ★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Manhattan, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Orleans, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 311.7 miles and takes about 5h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Waddell Road, Highway 488, State Route 96 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.31 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

155.8 miles from Orleans, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .

About the Cities

Arriving in Manhattan, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1624

Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.

Top landmarks

  • Empire State Building — skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 311.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 13m drive with frequent turns across 311.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 62 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Waddell Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 13m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Orleans, NY to Manhattan, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Waddell Road
Highway 488
State Route 96
Main Street
Highway 96
Lyons
I 90 East
New York State Thruway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Waddell Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Orleans, NY and Manhattan, NY.

1

Start on Main Street Orleans

371 ft · 19 sec · Main Street Orleans
2

Turn left onto Waddell Road

203 ft · 6 sec · Waddell Road
3

Turn right onto State Highway 488

0.5 mi · 40 sec · State Highway 488
4

Continue on State Highway 488

2.8 mi · 4 min · State Highway 488
5

At the end of the road, turn right onto State Route 96

1.1 mi · 1 min · State Route 96
6

Continue on Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street
7

Continue on State Route 96

1.9 mi · 2 min · State Route 96
8

Continue on State Highway 96

1.9 mi · 2 min · State Highway 96
9

Take the ramp straight toward Lyons

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Lyons
10

Merge slight left

0.4 mi · 35 sec
11

Take the exit left

0.1 mi · 19 sec
12

Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East: Albany

0.3 mi · 33 sec · I 90 East: Albany
13

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

6.3 mi · 7 min · New York State Thruway
14

Take the exit slight right toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde

0.5 mi · 59 sec · NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
15

Keep slight right

328 ft · 8 sec
16

Continue on State Route 414

0.3 mi · 35 sec · State Route 414
17

Turn left

4.1 mi · 7 min
18

At the end of the road, turn left onto Auburn Road

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road
19

Continue on Clark Street Road

9.6 mi · 11 min · Clark Street Road
20

Turn right onto State Street

226 ft · 12 sec · State Street
21

Turn left onto Dill Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Dill Street
22

Continue on Loop Road

459 ft · 17 sec · Loop Road
23

Turn left onto Genesee Street

5.5 mi · 9 min · Genesee Street
24

Continue on West Genesee Street Road

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Genesee Street Road
25

Turn right onto East Lake Street

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Lake Street
26

Continue on East Lake Road

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road
27

Continue on State Route 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41
28

Continue on East Lake Road

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road
29

Continue on State Highway 41

9.8 mi · 13 min · State Highway 41
30

Turn right onto North West Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · North West Street
31

Take the ramp left

0.7 mi · 1 min
32

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Binghamton

0.3 mi · 34 sec · I 81 South: Binghamton
33

Merge slight left

45 mi · 54 min
34

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81 South: Scranton
35

Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
36

Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
37

Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono

24 mi · 25 min · I 380 South: Mount Pocono
38

Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 80 East: Stroudsburg
39

Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway
40

Keep slight right to continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
41

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City

0.3 mi · 23 sec · I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
42

Keep slight right to continue on Leonia, Teaneck

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Leonia, Teaneck
43

Turn right onto Leonia

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Leonia
44

Turn straight onto Degraw Avenue

453 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue
45

Continue on Fort Lee Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road
46

Continue on Main Street

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street
47

Take the ramp left toward George Washington Bridge

472 ft · 13 sec · George Washington Bridge
48

Merge slight left onto Bergen Boulevard

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Bergen Boulevard
49

Take the exit slight left toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level

312 ft · 5 sec · George Washington Bridge Upper Level
50

Merge slight left

0.3 mi · 20 sec
51

Keep slight left

0.8 mi · 1 min
52

Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

0.5 mi · 45 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
53

Take the exit slight right toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
54

Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway

0.3 mi · 42 sec · NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
55

Keep slight left to continue on NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown

0.4 mi · 47 sec · NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
56

Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway

4.2 mi · 6 min · Henry Hudson Parkway
57

Take the exit slight right toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology
58

Continue on West 79th Street

0.2 mi · 52 sec · West 79th Street
59

Turn left onto Broadway

0.4 mi · 57 sec · Broadway
60

Turn right onto West 86th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 86th Street
61

Continue on 86th Street Transverse

0.2 mi · 36 sec · 86th Street Transverse
62

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 155.8 miles from Orleans, NY, or about 2h 36m into the drive.

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 69 miles or 1h 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 155.8 miles or 2h 36m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 16m

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 Orleans, 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 Orleans, NY

This is one driving day of about 311.7 miles and 5h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Orleans, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 155.8 mi from Orleans, NY · 2h 36m into the drive

city in Broome County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Binghamton, NY

156 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.

Popular next leg

Binghamton, NY to Manhattan, NY

183.4 mi · 3h 46m

Pacing Suggestions

Cortland, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Binghamton, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 155.8 miles from Orleans, 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

$51.31 one way

$102.62 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $55.48 $110.96
premium $4.92 $60.41 $120.83
diesel $5.61 $68.82 $137.64

Estimated Tolls: $16.00

George Washington Bridge $16.00
New York State Thruway $0.00

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

$51

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$92–$117

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 93.5 1 $32.73 $14.96
Efficient EV 77.9 0 $27.27 $12.47
EV Truck/SUV 124.7 1 $43.64 $19.95

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

36 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 15, 2026

Origin

Orleans, NY

Morning in Orleans on Saturday

Local time

9:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manhattan, NY

Morning in Manhattan on Saturday

Local time

9:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live 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

6 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

5h 13m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Orleans, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 311.7 miles and takes about 5h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Waddell Road, Highway 488, State Route 96. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 155.8 miles from Orleans, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

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 straightforward 5h 13m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Orleans, NY to Manhattan, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Orleans, NY to Manhattan, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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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