Origin
Washington Heights, NY
Evening in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington Heights, NY to Manhattan, NY
Drive Time
13m
Distance
6.7 mi
11 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington Heights, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Manhattan, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Traveling from Washington Heights to Manhattan is a quick, 6.3-mile trip that typically takes about 16 minutes. Since you are staying within the Northeast region, this route functions perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stops. You will navigate primarily via Broadway, West 177th Street, and NY 9A to reach your destination. With a fuel cost of roughly $1, this is an incredibly economical journey that fits easily into any schedule. It is a straightforward local transit that avoids the complexity of long-distance planning, making it ideal for those who need to get across the city efficiently.
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
3.3 miles from Washington Heights, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate through the urban landscape. Because this route involves zero highway driving, you will remain on surface streets for the entire 6.3-mile duration. The absence of high-speed interstate stretches means your pace will be dictated by city traffic patterns and local intersections. You will experience a consistent, low-speed environment that requires your full attention on navigation rather than long-distance cruising. It is a technical, short-distance drive that prioritizes urban connectivity over open-road travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henry Hudson Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Henry Hudson Parkway and Broadway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West 177th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 6.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West 177th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 177th Street
Turn right onto West 177th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverside Drive
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverside D...
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn slight right toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown, Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown, R...
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
HH; NY 9A / Henry Hudson Parkway
Merge onto HH; NY 9A / Henry Hudson Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
5.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology
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.
Toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art,...
Towns Along This Route
Between Washington Heights, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Downtown, Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum Of Art, American Museum Of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan and Jcc In Manhattan - among others.
Downtown
0.7 mi in
|
~2m
Boat Basin
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
Metropolitan Museum Of Art
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
American Museum Of Natural History
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
Children's Museum Of Manhattan
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
Jcc In Manhattan
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
Lincoln Center
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
New York Historical Society
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
New York Institute Of Technology
5.3 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Hudson Parkway | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Broadway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 86th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 79th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 177th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 86th Street Transverse | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Henry Hudson Parkway
— 4.2 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington Heights, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on US 9
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Broadway
2
Turn right onto West 177th Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
West 177th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverside Drive
4
Turn slight right
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown, Riverside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto HH; NY 9A
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on West 79th Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
West 79th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto Broadway
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Broadway
9
Turn right onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 86th Street
10
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
86th Street Transverse
Toward East Side
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Trip Plan
Given the short 16-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are no planned stops on this route, you can easily integrate this drive into a larger itinerary without needing to account for rest breaks or refueling. Keep in mind that as a purely local drive, your primary challenge will be navigating city streets rather than managing highway fatigue. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay vigilant on Broadway and NY 9A, as these roads serve as your main corridors and can be quite busy. Plan your departure to account for typical city congestion, as the short distance can still be impacted by local traffic flow.
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 3.3 miles from Washington Heights, NY, or about 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.2 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 6.7 miles or 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.3 miles or 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, 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 6.7 miles and 13m.
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 Henry Hudson Parkway for about 4.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3.3 mi from Washington Heights, NY · 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
3 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 6.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 3.3 miles from Washington Heights, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Manhattan, NY
The final approach into Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, 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
$1.09 one way
$2.18 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $1.18 | $2.36 |
| premium | $4.88 | $1.29 | $2.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $1.49 | $2.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.70 | $0.32 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.59 | $0.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.94 | $0.43 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Manhattan, NY
Evening in Manhattan on Sunday
Local time
5:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
5 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
13m 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 Manhattan, NY covers 6.7 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henry Hudson Parkway, Broadway, West 86th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.3 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 $1.09 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 6.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West 177th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Washington Heights, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Downtown, Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum Of Art, American Museum Of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan and Jcc In Manhattan - among others.
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