Drive Time
6h 28m
Distance
296.1 mi
477 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
Photo: Cristian Pedroso
Traveling from Shortsville to Brooklyn covers 316.1 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 36 minutes of driving time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, you should plan on this being a full-day commitment. Expect to budget roughly $50 for fuel to complete the journey. While it is possible to tackle this distance in a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you will spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel. Both your origin in Shortsville and your destination in Brooklyn are located within the Northeast, keeping you firmly in the region throughout your trip.
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
148.1 miles from Shortsville, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 15m into the drive .
Prepare for a drive that prioritizes local roads over high-speed highway travel. With a highway share of 0%, this route is defined by its turn-heavy profile that requires your constant attention. You will not find long, monotonous stretches of interstate here; instead, the path demands active navigation through various local corridors. The experience is best described as a technical, hands-on drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Because you are not relying on major highways, the pace remains steady but deliberate as you transition from the quiet of Shortsville toward the dense urban environment of Brooklyn.
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 21.8 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 39 significant decision points across 296.1 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 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.8 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 172.1 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.
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Between Shortsville, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.
Clyde
Mt Pocono
Milford
Newark
Cr 508 East: Jersey City
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 98.8 mi | 1h 57m |
| Keystone Shortway | 63.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| New York State Thruway | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| Essex Freeway | 15.8 mi | 20m |
| East Lake Road | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| State Highway 41 | 9.8 mi | 13m |
| Clark Street Road | 9.6 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Shortsville, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
Start on Water Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Turn right onto NY 21
Continue on NY 21
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on NY 414
Turn left onto NY 318
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
Continue on US 20; NY 5
Turn right onto State Street
Turn left onto Dill Street
Continue on Loop Road
Turn left onto Genesee Street
Continue on US 20
Turn right onto NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Turn right onto NY 281
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 81
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
Since this is a 5-hour and 36-minute trek on local roads, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and navigate local traffic effectively. Flexibility is a major advantage on a route like this, so do not hesitate to pull over for breaks whenever you feel the need to stretch, especially given the lack of long highway stretches. Keep in mind that the $50 fuel estimate is a baseline, so checking your levels before leaving Shortsville is a smart move. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits and frequent turns that are common on these types of paths. Prioritizing a well-rested start will make the navigation of these non-highway roads much more manageable.
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.
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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 3h 15m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Shortsville, 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 Shortsville, NY
This is one driving day of about 296.1 miles and 6h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.1 mi from Shortsville, NY · 3h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 148.1 miles from Shortsville, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.8 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
$48.20 one way
$96.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $52.24 | $104.47 |
| premium | $4.88 | $56.92 | $113.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $65.78 | $131.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $17.10
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
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.09 | $14.21 |
| Efficient EV | 74 | 0 | $25.91 | $11.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.4 | 1 | $41.45 | $18.95 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Shortsville on Sunday
Local time
1:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Brooklyn on Sunday
Local time
1:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
148 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
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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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