Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 59m
Distance
330.6 mi
532 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gainesville, NY
Liliana Drew
This 330.6-mile drive from Staten Island, NY, to Gainesville, NY, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 7 hours to complete. Primarily utilizing I-86, I-81, and Christopher Columbus Highway, this route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 73% of the journey on these faster roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $54, it’s an efficient trip for those looking to cover ground within New York State. Given its duration and highway nature, it’s a straightforward drive that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stop, making it a practical choice for a day trip across the Northeast region.
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
165.3 miles from Staten Island, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 59m. Total distance: 330.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 59m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 330.6-mile journey, with 73% of the drive on major interstates like I-86 and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 100 miles on I-86, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the majority of the route is on high-speed roads, keep in mind that the inclusion of Christopher Columbus Highway might introduce slightly different driving conditions. Overall, this drive prioritizes efficient travel over varied landscapes.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in.
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 43 significant decision points across 330.6 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 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
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 Staten Island, NY and Gainesville, NY, road signs point toward Morristown and Whippany.
Morristown
Whippany
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 100 mi | 1h 56m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 29 mi | 34m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Genesee Expressway | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| NJ 10 | 12.8 mi | 18m |
| Nunda-Dansville Road | 12.4 mi | 16m |
Step-by-step road directions between Staten Island, NY and Gainesville, NY.
Start on Croft Court
Turn left onto Corona Avenue
Continue on Cotter Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
Turn right onto Kensico Street
At end of road, turn right onto Richmond Road
Continue on Richmond Road
Continue on Rockland Avenue
Turn right onto Brielle Avenue
Turn left onto Bradley Avenue
Turn left onto North Gannon Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork onto Staten Island Expressway
Continue on I 278
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto NJ 439
Turn right onto NJ 439
Turn right onto CR 623
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 27
Turn left onto CR 628
Turn right onto CR 509
Turn right onto Paine Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 78
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on NJ 24
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on NJ 10
Continue on US 46
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 380
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
Take the exit
Turn left onto NY 36
Turn left onto Lincoln Street
Turn left onto NY 36
Continue on NY 436
Continue on NY 436
Continue on NY 436
Continue on NY 436
Turn right onto NY 436
Continue on NY 19A; NY 436
Turn left onto NY 436
Turn left onto NY 39
Turn sharp right onto CR 29
Continue on CR 29
Turn right onto NY 19
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 6-hour, 59-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Staten Island to bypass peak traffic. With 330.6 miles to cover, planning for just one stop is feasible, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 100 miles on I-86; ensure you're fueled up before entering that segment. The estimated fuel cost is around $54, so factor that into your budget. Given the highway-focused profile, this route is best tackled when you're ready for consistent driving rather than leisurely exploration.
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 73 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.3 miles or 3h 37m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Staten Island, 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 Staten Island, NY
This is one driving day of about 330.6 miles and 6h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 165.3 mi from Staten Island, NY · 3h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 165.3 miles from Staten Island, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100 miles.
The final approach into Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, NY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$54.42 one way
$108.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $58.84 | $117.69 |
| premium | $4.92 | $64.08 | $128.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.99 | $145.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
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
$54
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.2 | 1 | $34.71 | $15.87 |
| Efficient EV | 82.7 | 0 | $28.93 | $13.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.2 | 1 | $46.28 | $21.16 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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
Afternoon in Staten Island on Friday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Gainesville on Friday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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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