The drive from Rockland, NY to The Bronx, NY covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NY 17, NJ 17, New York State Thruway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.1 miles on NY 17.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.09 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.
Midpoint
58 miles from Rockland, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York. Known for Yankee Stadium, the home field of the New York Yankees baseball team, it has been a borough of New York City since 1898. The vast Bronx Zoo houses hundreds of species of animals. Nearby, the sprawling New York Botanical Garden features a landmark greenhouse with rainforest and cactus displays. By the Hudson River, Wave Hill is a landscaped public garden with wooded paths and a cultural center.
Top landmarks
•New York Botanical Garden — botanical garden in the Bronx, New York City
•Woodlawn Cemetery — cemetery in the Bronx, New York City
•Hall of Fame for Great Americans — architectural structure
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 28m highway drive covering 116 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and NJ 17. The longest continuous stretch is about 70.1 miles on NY 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 70.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
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 20 significant decision points across 116 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward NY 17 East: New York City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NY 17 East: New York City
8
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
7
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
9
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rockland, NY and The Bronx, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Nyst: Albany
70.5 mi in|~1h 25m
New York City
70.5 mi in|~1h 25m
Gsp South: Paterson
101.2 mi in|~2h 4m
Fort Lee
101.2 mi in|~2h 4m
New York
101.2 mi in|~2h 4m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
70.1 mi
1h 23m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
2.9 mi
3m
I 95 EXPR
1.5 mi
2m
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
0.7 mi
1m
Rockland Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockland, NY and The Bronx, NY.
1
Start on Wilcox Avenue
33 ft·3 sec·Wilcox Avenue
2
Turn right onto NY 206; CR 91
0.6 mi·1 min·Rockland Road
3
Continue on NY 206; CR 179
0.3 mi·33 sec·Old Route 17
4
Turn right onto CR 124
0.2 mi·21 sec·Stewart Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward NY 17 East: New York CityUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto NY 17
69 mi·1 hr 22 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
12
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
15
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
20
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
22
Continue on I 95; US 1
2.9 mi·3 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 4BToward Rosedale AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
25
Turn right onto Noble Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Noble Avenue
26
Turn right onto Bronx River Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·Bronx River Avenue
27
Turn straight onto East Tremont Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Tremont Avenue
28
Turn left onto White Plains Road
0.5 mi·1 min·White Plains Road
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto Cruger Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Cruger Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Cruger Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from Rockland, NY, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near The Bronx, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rockland, 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 Rockland, NY
This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Rockland, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 70.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58 mi from Rockland, NY
· 1h 10m into the drive
The midpoint is around 58 miles from Rockland, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.1 miles.
Arriving in The Bronx, NY
The final approach into The Bronx, 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 The Bronx, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
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...
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 112
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 112
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 112
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.09 one way
$38.19 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$20.65
$41.29
premium
$4.92
$22.48
$44.97
diesel
$5.61
$25.61
$51.22
Estimated Tolls: $16.68
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(13.7 mi)$0.68
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
$19
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.42
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Rockland, NY
Late night
in Rockland on Saturday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
The Bronx, NY
Late night
in The Bronx on Saturday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 to 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:26AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
59°F
Florida, NY
58 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
24 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
2h 28m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Rockland, NY to The Bronx, NY covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, NJ 17, New York State Thruway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58 miles from Rockland, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.09 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 116 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Rockland, NY and The Bronx, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial 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.
