Union, NY to Richmond Hill, NY is 242.3 miles and takes about 5h 14m via NY 17 and NJ 17, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New York state, making it a straightforward journey. Expect a highway-focused drive with minimal deviation from major routes. Given its manageable length and clear path, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
121.2 miles from Union, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 14m. Total distance: 242.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the journey utilizing major roads like NY 17 and NJ 17. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a significant 106-mile segment on NY 17. While the profile suggests primarily highway travel, expect some transitions as you navigate between different state highways. The character is largely about efficient travel, minimizing time spent on slower local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 49 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 106 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and State Highway 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 186 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 29 significant decision points across 242.3 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 186 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.6 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 29 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
186 mi into trip|~3h 55m 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
9
201.2 mi into trip|~4h 14m 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
202.6 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
8
231.4 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
9
241.3 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union, NY and Richmond Hill, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Nyst: Albany
186 mi in|~3h 55m
New York City
186 mi in|~3h 55m
Gsp South: Paterson
216.7 mi in|~4h 34m
Fort Lee
216.7 mi in|~4h 34m
New York
216.7 mi in|~4h 34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
106 mi
2h 12m
State Highway 8
36.8 mi
41m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
County Road 16
11.8 mi
16m
State Route 80
8.8 mi
12m
Rexford Street
8.3 mi
9m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 106 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NY and Richmond Hill, NY.
1
Start on Kiley Road
73 ft·4 sec·Kiley Road
2
Turn right onto CR 46
0.7 mi·1 min·Delphi Road
3
Turn right onto NY 13
1.4 mi·1 min·Rippleton Road
4
Continue on NY 13
0.2 mi·25 sec·State Route 13
5
Turn left onto NY 13; NY 80
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
6
Continue on NY 13; NY 80
1.1 mi·1 min·McKinley Street
7
Continue on NY 13; NY 80
1.9 mi·2 min·State Route 13
8
Continue on NY 80
6.1 mi·8 min·State Route 80
9
Continue on NY 26; NY 80
2.7 mi·3 min·State Route 80
10
Continue on NY 26; NY 80
2.2 mi·3 min·State Highway 26
11
Turn left onto CR 16
12 mi·16 min·County Road 16
12
Turn left onto NY 23
1.2 mi·1 min·NY 23
13
Turn left onto CR 44
2.8 mi·3 min·County Road 44
14
Turn right onto NY 12
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 12
15
Continue on NY 12
0.6 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
16
Turn left onto NY 23
8.3 mi·9 min·Rexford Street
17
Turn right onto NY 8
18 mi·20 min·State Highway 8
18
Continue on NY 8
0.4 mi·29 sec·Airport Road
19
Continue on NY 8
19 mi·21 min·State Highway 8
20
Continue on NY 8; NY 10
0.3 mi·18 sec·Oak Street
21
Continue on NY 8; NY 10
0.4 mi·44 sec·State Highway 10
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward NY 17 East
23
Merge onto NY 17
105 mi·2 hr 11 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
26
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
29
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.
30
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
32
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
33
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
35
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
37
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
39
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
42
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
43
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi·6 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy AirportUse the slight left lane.
45
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
46
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
47
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.1 mi·21 sec·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
48
Turn right onto Jamaica Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Jamaica Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
49
Arrive at destination
Jamaica Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 242.3-mile drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one suggested stop, you can maintain a steady pace, but consider a brief break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on NY 17, as services might be more spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $40 provides a good budget baseline for this trip within New York.
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 121.2 miles from Union, NY, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106 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 53 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.2 miles or 2h 34m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond Hill, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, 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 Union, NY
This is one driving day of about 242.3 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Union, 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 NY 17 for about 106 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.2 mi from Union, NY
· 2h 34m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 225.6
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 225.6
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 242.3
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 242.3
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...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 225.6
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 242.3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.7
0
$25.44
$11.63
Efficient EV
60.6
0
$21.20
$9.69
EV Truck/SUV
96.9
1
$33.92
$15.51
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Union, NY
Morning
in Union on Saturday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond Hill, NY
Morning
in Richmond Hill on Saturday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
121 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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 14m 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 Union, NY to Richmond Hill, NY covers 242.3 miles and takes about 5h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, State Highway 8, NJ 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.2 miles from Union, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.88 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 242.3 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 186 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.6 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Union, NY and Richmond Hill, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
