Origin
Rathbone, NY
Evening in Rathbone on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 50m
Distance
272.5 mi
439 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rathbone, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Brooklyn, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Rathbone to Brooklyn covers 272.6 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 55 minutes of active driving time. Because this journey is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best suited for a single, focused day of travel rather than an overnight split. You should budget approximately $43 for fuel to complete the trip. As you move from the rural Northeast region of New York toward the urban center of Brooklyn, the environment shifts significantly. This route is a practical choice if you prefer local roads over high-speed interstates, though it requires your full attention behind the wheel.
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
136.3 miles from Rathbone, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route is characterized by its turn-heavy local nature rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% of the drive on major highways, you will navigate local thoroughfares for the entire 272.6-mile duration. The road demands constant engagement, requiring you to remain alert through every turn and transition. Since there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the pace remains steady but technical throughout the nearly five-hour journey. You will find that the personality of the road remains consistent, favoring local navigation over the speed of an expressway.
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 13.7 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 272.5 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 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 148.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rathbone, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Binghamton, Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.
Binghamton
Mt Pocono
Milford
Newark
Cr 508 East: Jersey City
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 80.1 mi | 1h 34m |
| 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 |
| County Route 119 | 4.2 mi | 10m |
| I 84 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| I 99 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rathbone, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
Start on CR 21
Turn straight onto CR 119
Continue on West Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto NY 417
Continue on NY 417
Continue on NY 417
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 99; US 15
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 280
Take the exit
Merge onto CR 508
Continue on NJ 7
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight
Merge onto NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Continue on I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
Take the exit
Turn slight left onto Laight Street
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
Take the exit
Continue on I 278
Take the exit onto NY 27
Take the exit onto NY 27
Turn left onto NY 27
Continue on NY 27
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the four-hour and 55-minute duration, planning your departure to avoid peak traffic is essential for a smooth arrival in Brooklyn. Since there are no scheduled stops in the route data, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep your $43 fuel budget in mind as you plan your stops, ensuring you fill up before hitting the more congested areas near your destination. Because this is a turn-heavy route, try to avoid driving during inclement weather if possible to maintain better control on local roads. Prioritize a morning departure to maximize daylight hours for navigating the final, more complex segments of the drive.
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.
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 60 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.3 miles or 2h 50m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Rathbone, 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 Rathbone, NY
This is one driving day of about 272.5 miles and 5h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.3 mi from Rathbone, NY · 2h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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.
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 136.3 miles from Rathbone, 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 80.1 miles.
The final approach into Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$44.86 one way
$89.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $48.50 | $97.01 |
| premium | $4.92 | $52.82 | $105.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.16 | $120.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.14
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
$45
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.8 | 1 | $28.61 | $13.08 |
| Efficient EV | 68.1 | 0 | $23.84 | $10.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109 | 1 | $38.15 | $17.44 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Rathbone on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Brooklyn on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 3:25PM EDT until April 14 at 4:15PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 3:13PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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