Origin
Painted Post, NY
Evening in Painted Post on Wednesday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Painted Post, NY to New York City, NY
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
5h 12m
Distance
251.5 mi
405 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 59m
★
6 AM
5h 12m
8 AM
5h 39m
10 AM
5h 22m
12 PM
5h 19m
3 PM
5h 23m
5 PM
5h 38m
8 PM
5h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Painted Post, NY
Douglas Schneiders
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 251.5-mile drive from Painted Post, NY, to New York City, NY, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 12 minutes. You'll spend about 71% of your time on highways, making it a focused driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $41, it's an affordable option for a quick trip between these two points in the Northeast. While the journey is manageable in one go, consider an early start to maximize daylight and minimize city traffic upon arrival. This route offers a straightforward connection between upstate New York and the metropolitan area.
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
125.7 miles from Painted Post, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 71% of the route utilizing major expressways. You'll primarily navigate the Southern Tier Expressway and the Keystone Shortway before merging onto I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 79.7 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While largely highway, the transition between these main arteries provides some variation in the driving experience as you make your way east.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern Tier Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 79.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Steuben Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 251.5 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 0.2 miles (Steuben Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 81.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Steuben Street
At end of road, turn left onto Steuben Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
81.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m 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
134.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m 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
246.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 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
246.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Painted Post, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
Mt Pocono
134.5 mi in
|
~2h 40m
|
via US 6
Milford
135.3 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via I 84; I 380
Newark
226.9 mi in
|
~4h 32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 79.7 mi | 1h 33m |
| Keystone Shortway | 63.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Essex Freeway | 15.8 mi | 20m |
| I 84 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Holland Tunnel | 2 mi | 4m |
| Newark-Jersey City Turnpike | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Southern Tier Expressway
— 79.7 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Painted Post, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on this road
135 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Rand Avenue
287 ft
·
13 sec
·
Rand Avenue
3
Turn right onto West High Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
West High Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Steuben Street
80 ft
·
6 sec
·
Steuben Street
5
Turn right onto NY 415
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
West High Street
6
Continue on NY 415
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Pulteney Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
8
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
80 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380
Exit 4
Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
14
Merge onto I 80
63 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 47A
Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
16
Continue on I 280
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17A
Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
18
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the straight lane.
23
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Conrail Viaduct
24
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
12th Street Viaduct
25
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
27
Take the exit
305 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft
·
7 sec
·
Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
31
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 12-minute duration, departing from Painted Post early in the morning is your best bet to arrive in New York City before the peak evening rush. You'll have one recommended stop, but with only 251.5 miles, you have flexibility to adjust your pace. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 79.7-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services might be less frequent. Planning your final approach into New York City based on real-time traffic will be crucial for a smooth arrival.
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 125.7 miles from Painted Post, NY, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.7 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.7 miles or 2h 30m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Painted Post, 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 Painted Post, NY
This is one driving day of about 251.5 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Painted Post, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 79.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125.7 mi from Painted Post, NY · 2h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.7 miles from Painted Post, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.7 miles.
Arriving in New York City, NY
The final approach into New York City, 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 New York City, 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
$41.40 one way
$82.80 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $44.77 | $89.53 |
| premium | $4.92 | $48.75 | $97.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.53 | $111.06 |
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
$41
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.5 | 0 | $26.41 | $12.07 |
| Efficient EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.01 | $10.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.21 | $16.10 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
126 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
9 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 12m 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 Painted Post, NY to New York City, NY covers 251.5 miles and takes about 5h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.7 miles from Painted Post, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.40 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 demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 251.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Steuben Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 81.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Painted Post, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From New York City, NY
More from Painted Post, NY
More trips to New York City, NY
Explore more options from Painted Post, NY or browse trips ending in New York City, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
Explore maps for Painted Post, NY or New York City, NY on MapSof.net.