Origin
Washington Heights, NY
Afternoon in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington Heights, NY to Bay Wood, NY
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington Heights, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Bay Wood, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
Traveling from Washington Heights to Bay Wood is a straightforward 44.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, it remains an affordable trek within the Northeast region. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, making this a practical choice if your goal is efficiency rather than sightseeing. Since the route stays entirely within New York, the transition between these two areas is seamless and familiar for local commuters.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
22.4 miles from Washington Heights, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience, as 84% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major expressways. You will navigate a mix of the Cross Bronx Expressway and the Clearview Expressway before transitioning to the Southern State Parkway. The road feels like a standard interstate grind, characterized by consistent traffic flow and limited local maneuvering. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Southern State Parkway, where you can settle in for 24.7 miles of steady driving. Because this is a direct, high-speed connection, you should be prepared for a utilitarian drive that prioritizes speed over winding scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Cross Bronx Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West 181st Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 44.8 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 0.2 miles (West 181st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 181st Street
Turn right onto West 181st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
5.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
18.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 25A
Toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Lon...
6
43.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
SO / Southern State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
43.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
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 41S
Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Towns Along This Route
Between Washington Heights, NY and Bay Wood, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
Cross Island Parkway South
16.7 mi in
|
~25m
Southern State Parkway East
18.2 mi in
|
~27m
Eastern Long Island
18.2 mi in
|
~27m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 24.7 mi | 31m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hempstead Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Howells Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Hollis Court Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 24.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington Heights, NY and Bay Wood, NY.
1
Start on US 9
302 ft
·
20 sec
·
Broadway
2
Turn left onto West 180th Street
293 ft
·
17 sec
·
West 180th Street
3
Turn left onto Wadsworth Avenue
293 ft
·
12 sec
·
Wadsworth Avenue
4
Turn right onto West 181st Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 181st Street
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on Washington Bridge
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Bridge
Use the straight / none lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 95 North: Cross Bronx Expressway, New England, Eastern Long Island
7
Merge onto I 95; US 1
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
9
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the none lane.
10
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
Use the left / none lanes.
14
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hempstead Avenue
Use the none lane.
15
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft
·
9 sec
·
225th Street
Use the right lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
17
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the none lane.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 25A
Toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
19
Merge onto SO
25 mi
·
31 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the none lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 41S
Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto CR 57
257 ft
·
11 sec
·
Bay Shore Road
23
Continue on CR 57
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Bay Shore Road
24
Turn right onto Howells Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Howells Road
Use the right lane.
25
Arrive at destination
Howells Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your scheduling, though it is wise to avoid peak congestion hours on these major expressways. You won't need to plan for any formal stops given the short duration, allowing you to drive straight through to your destination. Keep a close eye on real-time traffic updates for the Cross Bronx Expressway, as delays there can significantly impact your total travel time. Because fuel costs are modest at roughly $7, you can easily fill up before you leave Washington Heights to ensure you have no reason to pull over. Utilize the lack of mandatory stops to your advantage by planning your departure around your own personal preferences rather than fuel or rest requirements.
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 22.4 miles from Washington Heights, NY, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 44.8 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.4 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Wood, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Washington Heights, 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 Washington Heights, NY
This is one driving day of about 44.8 miles and 1h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Washington Heights, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Southern State Parkway for about 24.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.4 mi from Washington Heights, NY · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 44.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Washington Heights, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bay Wood, NY
The final approach into Bay Wood, 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 Bay Wood, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.29 one way
$14.59 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $7.90 | $15.81 |
| premium | $4.88 | $8.61 | $17.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.95 | $19.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
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
$7
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Bay Wood, NY
Afternoon in Bay Wood on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
1h 3m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Washington Heights, NY to Bay Wood, NY covers 44.8 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern State Parkway, Cross Bronx Expressway, Clearview Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.4 miles from Washington Heights, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.29 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 18 significant decision points across 44.8 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 0.2 miles (West 181st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Washington Heights, NY and Bay Wood, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
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