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Trip from Washington Heights, NY to Ithaca, NY

Drive Time

4h 35m

Distance

224.9 mi

362 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 22m ★
6 AM
4h 35m
8 AM
5h 2m
10 AM
4h 45m
12 PM
4h 42m
3 PM
4h 46m
5 PM
5h 1m
8 PM
4h 27m

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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Downtown Washington Heights, NY, NY

Washington Heights, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Downtown Ithaca, NY, NY

Ithaca, NY

Beth Fitzpatrick

Trip Overview

The drive from Washington Heights, NY to Ithaca, NY covers 224.9 miles and takes about 4h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, US 11 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.8 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.61 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

112.5 miles from Washington Heights, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 35m highway drive covering 224.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and Christopher Columbus Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 73.8 miles on I 81.

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.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 73.8 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 1.4 miles in near I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 224.9 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 1.4 miles (I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

6
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
2.2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

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 I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
4.8 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

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 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
6
73.8 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | I 80 / Keystone Shortway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Keystone Shortway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

Between Washington Heights, NY and Ithaca, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Lisle.

Albany

177.5 mi in | ~3h 34m | via I 81

Lisle

193.3 mi in | ~3h 53m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 73.8 mi 1h 28m
Christopher Columbus Highway 68.2 mi 1h 20m
US 11 30.6 mi 40m
I 380 27.7 mi 30m
Keystone Shortway 17.3 mi 24m
New Jersey Turnpike 2 mi 2m
I 95 EXPR 1.2 mi 1m
NY 26 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 73.8 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Washington Heights, NY and Ithaca, NY.

1

Start on Broadway

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Broadway
2

Turn right onto West 179th Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · West 179th Street
3

Take the ramp straight toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey

0.3 mi · 40 sec · I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey
4

Merge slight left onto George Washington Bridge (upper level)

0.4 mi · 44 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
5

Continue straight

0.5 mi · 48 sec
6

Keep slight left

0.6 mi · 39 sec
7

Keep slight left

0.1 mi · 9 sec
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
9

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

0.4 mi · 29 sec · I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
10

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

2.0 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Turnpike
11

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
12

Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
13

Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway
14

Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway
15

Take the exit slight right toward I 380 North: Scranton

0.7 mi · 46 sec · I 380 North: Scranton
16

Continue straight

28 mi · 30 min
17

Merge slight right

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min
18

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
19

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse

14 mi · 16 min · I 81 North: Syracuse
20

Take the exit slight right toward NY 26 North: Whitney Point, Lisle

0.3 mi · 33 sec · NY 26 North: Whitney Point, Lisle
21

Turn right

0.5 mi · 43 sec
22

At the end of the road, turn left

0.1 mi · 10 sec
23

Continue straight

31 mi · 39 min
24

Keep slight right to continue on Seneca Way

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Seneca Way
25

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 112.5 miles from Washington Heights, NY, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 112.5 miles or 2h 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ithaca, 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 224.9 miles and 4h 35m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 73.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 112.5 mi from Washington Heights, NY · 2h 17m into the drive

Downtown Ramapo, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

112 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 112.5 miles from Washington Heights, 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 73.8 miles.

Arriving in Ithaca, NY

The final approach into Ithaca, 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 Ithaca, NY.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

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
View on nps.gov
General Grant National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

National Memorial

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
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

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 ~22 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

National Monument

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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.61 one way

$73.23 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $39.68 $79.35
premium $4.88 $43.24 $86.47
diesel $5.64 $49.96 $99.93

Estimated Tolls: $16.00

George Washington Bridge $16.00
New Jersey Turnpike $0.00

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

$37

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 67.5 0 $23.61 $10.80
Efficient EV 56.2 0 $19.68 $9.00
EV Truck/SUV 90 1 $31.49 $14.39

Gas CO2

79 kg

EV CO2

26 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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Washington Heights, NY

Morning in Washington Heights on Monday

Local time

6:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 8 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 12:55AM EDT until April 13 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:22AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Destination

Ithaca, NY

Morning in Ithaca on Monday

Local time

6:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

112 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

4 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

4h 35m 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 Washington Heights, NY to Ithaca, NY covers 224.9 miles and takes about 4h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, US 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 112.5 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 $36.61 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 19 significant decision points across 224.9 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 1.4 miles (I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Washington Heights, NY and Ithaca, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Lisle.

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Return Trip

Ithaca, NY to Washington Heights, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

224.7 mi 4h 35m

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