Trip from Staten Island, NY to Lakeland, NY

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

5h 27m

Distance

256.4 mi

413 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 14m ★

6 AM

5h 28m

8 AM

5h 54m

10 AM

5h 37m

12 PM

5h 34m

3 PM

5h 38m

5 PM

5h 53m

8 PM

5h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lakeland, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

This 256.4-mile drive from Staten Island, NY, to Lakeland, NY, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 27 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of $42, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. The route predominantly utilizes major interstates, making it efficient for reaching your destination within New York. Given its manageable length and highway profile, this trip is well-suited as a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. It's a practical choice for those prioritizing direct travel within 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

128.2 miles from Staten Island, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 27m. Total distance: 256.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for approximately 75% of this 256.4-mile route. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major arteries like I 81 and I 380. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 129.5 miles on I 81, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While this profile emphasizes speed and efficiency, it means the drive is less about varied scenery and more about covering ground. The Christopher Columbus Highway also features as a key component of your journey.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 52 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 129.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 38 significant decision points across 256.4 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 38 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9 mi into trip | ~19m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3B; 3C Toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth

9 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 3B Toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue

19.8 mi into trip | ~38m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 48 Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown

29.5 mi into trip | ~49m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 North: Mahwah

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 287 North: Mahwah

30.9 mi into trip | ~52m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 39 Toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Staten Island, NY and Lakeland, NY, road signs point toward Morristown, Whippany and Albany.

Morristown

19.8 mi in | ~38m

Whippany

30.9 mi in | ~52m

Albany

178.8 mi in | ~3h 53m | via I 81

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 81	129.5 mi	2h 33m
Christopher Columbus Highway	29 mi	34m
I 380	27.7 mi	30m
Keystone Shortway	17.3 mi	24m
NJ 10	12.8 mi	18m
NJ 24	9.4 mi	11m
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway	4.6 mi	5m
Staten Island Expressway	3.2 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 81 — 129.5 mi, about 2h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Staten Island, NY and Lakeland, NY.

Start on Croft Court

147 ft · 13 sec · Croft Court

Turn left onto Corona Avenue

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Corona Avenue

Continue on Cotter Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Cotter Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue

284 ft · 13 sec · Clarke Avenue

Turn right onto Kensico Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Kensico Street

At end of road, turn right onto Richmond Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Richmond Road

Continue on Richmond Road

447 ft · 14 sec · Richmond Road

Continue on Rockland Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Rockland Avenue

Turn right onto Brielle Avenue

0.8 mi · 2 min · Brielle Avenue

Turn left onto Bradley Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bradley Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto North Gannon Avenue

364 ft · 8 sec · North Gannon Avenue

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward I 278 West: Staten Island Expressway, Goethals Bridge, Elizabeth

Merge onto I 278

2.1 mi · 3 min · Staten Island Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto Staten Island Expressway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Staten Island Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 278

1.4 mi · 2 min · Goethals Bridge

Take the exit

150 ft · 4 sec

Exit 3B; 3C Toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 3B Toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue

Turn left onto NJ 439

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Brunswick Avenue

Turn right onto NJ 439

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Bayway

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto CR 623

2.0 mi · 5 min · South Broad Street

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 27

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Broad Street

Turn left onto CR 628

1.0 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto CR 509

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Chestnut Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto Paine Avenue

367 ft · 12 sec · Paine Avenue

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Toward I 78 West

Merge onto I 78

4.6 mi · 5 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 48 Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown

Continue on NJ 24

9.4 mi · 11 min · NJ 24

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 287 North: Mahwah Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 287

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 39 Toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward NJ 10 West: Dover Use the slight left lane.

Continue on NJ 10

13 mi · 18 min · NJ 10

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 46

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 46

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 80 West

Merge onto I 80

29 mi · 34 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 46 sec

Exit 293 Toward I 380 North: Scranton

Continue on I 380

28 mi · 30 min · I 380

Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 81

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 81

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 81

Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

66 mi · 1 hr 17 min · I 81

Toward I 81 North: Syracuse Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

0.2 mi · 17 sec · I 81

Toward Syracuse Use the straight lane.

Continue on I-81

0.4 mi · 26 sec · I-81

Continue on I 81

2.9 mi · 4 min · I 81

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 690 West: Fairgrounds, Baldwinsville Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 690

3.1 mi · 4 min · I 690

Toward Fairgrounds, Baldwinsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Toward NY 297: Fairgrounds, Solvay Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 13 sec · this road

Turn straight onto State Fair Boulevard

2.1 mi · 4 min · State Fair Boulevard

Arrive at destination

State Fair Boulevard

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour, 27-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Staten Island to avoid potential traffic, especially if you're traveling on a weekday. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $42, pacing yourself is key. The longest stretch on I 81 is nearly 130 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before you embark on that segment. This trip is definitely manageable in a single day, offering flexibility to explore Lakeland upon arrival without feeling rushed.

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 128.2 miles from Staten Island, NY, or about 2h 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.5 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 56 miles or 1h 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 128.2 miles or 2h 53m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 256.4 miles and 5h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Staten Island, 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 I 81 for about 129.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 128.2 mi from Staten Island, NY · 2h 53m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Port Jervis, NY

128 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Deposit, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 128.2 miles from Staten Island, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.5 miles.

Arriving in Lakeland, NY

The final approach into Lakeland, 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 Lakeland, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.21 one way

$84.41 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$45.64	$91.27
premium	$4.92	$49.70	$99.39
diesel	$5.61	$56.61	$113.22

Estimated Tolls: $16.00

Goethals Bridge $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

$42

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: 89.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	76.9	0	$26.92	$12.31
Efficient EV	64.1	0	$22.43	$10.26
EV Truck/SUV	102.6	1	$35.90	$16.41

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Staten Island, NY

Night in Staten Island on Thursday

Local time

10:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakeland, NY

Night in Lakeland on Thursday

Local time

10:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

10 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 27m 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 Staten Island, NY to Lakeland, NY covers 256.4 miles and takes about 5h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, I 380. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 128.2 miles from Staten Island, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.21 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.

Between Staten Island, NY and Lakeland, NY, road signs point toward Morristown, Whippany and Albany.

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Trip from Staten Island, NY to Lakeland, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Lakeland, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Staten Island, NY

Lakeland, NY

Same local time

10 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 27m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Continue From Lakeland, NY

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