Drive Time
50m
Distance
17.8 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Photo: Cristian Pedroso
Traversing the 17.8 miles from Washington Heights to Brooklyn is a quintessential New York City local drive. Expect a duration of about 50 minutes, though city traffic patterns can fluctuate significantly. You will primarily navigate via Broadway, West 180th Street, and Amsterdam Avenue to complete this journey. Because the entire route is located within the Northeast region, you won't need to account for regional transitions or overnight stays, making this a perfect one-day trip. With a fuel cost of only $3, it is an economical way to travel between these two distinct boroughs. Keep in mind that this is strictly a local transit experience rather than a traditional road trip.
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
8.9 miles from Washington Heights, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Forget about highway cruising on this trip, as the route consists of 0% highway driving. Instead, you should prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Navigating through dense urban corridors means you will encounter frequent intersections and constant stop-and-go conditions. Since there is no longest uninterrupted stretch to speak of, the character of the road remains consistently urban and technical from start to finish. You will need to stay alert as you transition between the neighborhood streets that define this 17.8-mile path.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 180th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Amsterdam Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harlem River Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 278 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Robert F | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 278 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Central Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Washington Heights, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
Start on West 181st Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Turn left onto West 180th Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Amsterdam Avenue
Take the ramp left
Merge slight right onto Harlem River Drive
Take the exit slight right toward I 278 Toll: Robert F Kennedy Bridge, Bruckner Expressway, Grand Central Parkway
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Keep slight right to continue on I 278 West: Queens, Airports, Citi Field
Merge slight left onto Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Continue on Grand Central Parkway
Keep slight right to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Keep slight right to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward Wythe Avenue, Kent Avenue
Turn straight onto Williamsburg Street West
Turn right onto Flushing Avenue
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
Turn right onto Empire Boulevard
Turn left onto Flatbush Avenue
Turn left onto Caton Avenue
Continue on Linden Boulevard
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
Arrive at your destination
Flexibility is your greatest advantage on this short trek, but timing remains critical to avoid the worst of the city's congestion. Since the drive takes roughly 50 minutes, try to depart during off-peak hours to keep your travel time manageable. There are no planned stops on this route, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave; at a cost of just $3, it is a minor expense to manage ahead of time. Given the turn-heavy nature of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, keep a close watch on your GPS to navigate the frequent directional changes. Focus on steady, defensive driving to handle the high volume of local traffic you will inevitably encounter.
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.
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 17.8 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.9 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 17.8 miles and 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.9 mi from Washington Heights, NY · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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.
A short stop after about 17.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.9 miles from Washington Heights, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.81 one way
$5.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $3.14 | $6.28 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.41 | $6.81 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $3.29 | $6.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Washington Heights on Saturday
Local time
11:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Brooklyn on Saturday
Local time
11:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
57°F
Richmond Hill, NY
9 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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