Trip from Washington Heights, NY to Palmyra, NY

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 15m

Distance

296.1 mi

477 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 3m ★

6 AM

6h 16m

8 AM

6h 41m

10 AM

6h 24m

12 PM

6h 22m

3 PM

6h 26m

5 PM

6h 40m

8 PM

6h 8m

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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Washington Heights, NY

Wikimedia Commons

town in Wayne County, New York, United States of America

Palmyra, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Washington Heights, NY to Palmyra, NY covers 296.1 miles and takes about 6h 15m 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, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.74 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

148.1 miles from Washington Heights, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 15m. Total distance: 296.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Washington Heights, NY to Palmyra, NY covers 296.1 miles and takes about 6h 15m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 47 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 97.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 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 30 significant decision points across 296.1 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 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; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 30 key points

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

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

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

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

268.9 mi into trip | ~5h 40m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

289.1 mi into trip | ~6h 4m in

Take the exit toward NY 21: Manchester, Palmyra

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 43 Toward NY 21: Manchester, Palmyra

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Washington Heights, NY to Palmyra, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.

Albany

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 81	97.3 mi	1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway	68.2 mi	1h 20m
I 380	27.7 mi	30m
New York State Thruway	19.4 mi	22m
Keystone Shortway	17.3 mi	24m
Clinton Street	10.5 mi	15m
East Lake Road	9.9 mi	14m
Chase Street	9.8 mi	11m

Longest stretch: I 81 — 97.3 mi, about 1h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 9

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Broadway

Turn right onto US 9

0.1 mi · 20 sec · West 179th Street

Take the ramp onto US 9

0.3 mi · 39 sec · US 9

Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey

Merge onto I 95; US 1; US 9

0.4 mi · 43 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.5 mi · 48 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

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

0.6 mi · 39 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 95 EXPR; NJTP

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

2.0 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

68 mi · 1 hr 20 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

37 mi · 43 min · I 81

Toward I 81 North: Syracuse

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec

Exit 52 Toward NY 13: Cortland

Turn right onto NY 13

39 ft · 5 sec · Clinton Avenue

Turn left onto Locust Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Locust Avenue

Continue on Albany Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Albany Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Turn left onto NY 41

10 mi · 15 min · Clinton Street

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41

Continue on NY 41

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 48 sec · East Lake Street

Turn left onto US 20

7.3 mi · 13 min · East Genesee Street

Turn right onto US 20

0.2 mi · 12 sec · North Fulton Street

Turn left onto US 20; NY 5

0.4 mi · 1 min · Arterial West

Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38

9.8 mi · 11 min · Chase Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 20; NY 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road

Turn right onto NY 318

4.1 mi · 7 min · NY 318

Continue on NY 318

319 ft · 10 sec · NY 318

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto NY 414

0.3 mi · 28 sec · State Route 414

Use the right lane.

Continue on NY 414

217 ft · 11 sec · Ridge Road

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Use the left lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 West: Buffalo Use the straight / right lanes.

Merge onto I 90

19 mi · 22 min · New York State Thruway

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 43 Toward NY 21: Manchester, Palmyra Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto NY 21

0.2 mi · 18 sec · North Main Street

Continue on NY 21

4.3 mi · 6 min · State Route 21

Continue on NY 21

1.1 mi · 1 min · Canandaigua Road

Continue on NY 21

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Canandaigua Street

Arrive at destination

Church Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 148.1 miles from Washington Heights, NY, or about 2h 59m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 65 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 148.1 miles or 2h 59m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmyra, 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 296.1 miles and 6h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 97.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 148.1 mi from Washington Heights, NY · 2h 59m into the drive

city in Broome County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Binghamton, NY

148 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Binghamton, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.1 miles from Washington Heights, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Palmyra, NY

The final approach into Palmyra, 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 Palmyra, 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

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

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

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 255.3

View on nps.gov

Women's Rights National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 265.5

View on nps.gov

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

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

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.74 one way

$97.48 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$52.70	$105.41
premium	$4.92	$57.39	$114.78
diesel	$5.61	$65.38	$130.75

Estimated Tolls: $17.25

George Washington Bridge $16.00

New York State Thruway (19.4 mi) $0.97

New Jersey Turnpike (2 mi) $0.28

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

$49

Tolls

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$91–$116

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	88.8	1	$31.09	$14.21
Efficient EV	74	0	$25.91	$11.84
EV Truck/SUV	118.4	1	$41.45	$18.95

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 16, 2026

Origin

Washington Heights, NY

Night in Washington Heights on Thursday

Local time

11:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Palmyra, NY

Night in Palmyra on Thursday

Local time

11:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°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

11 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

6h 15m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Palmyra, NY covers 296.1 miles and takes about 6h 15m 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. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 148.1 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 $48.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.