Drive Time
16m
Distance
6.3 mi
10 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Washington Heights, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 6.3 miles and takes about 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Broadway, West 177th Street, NY 9A for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
3.2 miles from Washington Heights, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Expect a 16m drive with frequent turns across 6.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 177th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NY 9A | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Henry Hudson Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Boat Basin | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 79th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 86th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 86th Street Transverse | 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 Manhattan, NY.
Start on West 181st Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Turn right onto West 177th Street
Take the ramp straight toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverside Drive
Turn slight right onto NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown, Riverside Drive
Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway
Take the exit slight right 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
Continue on West 79th Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Turn right onto West 86th Street
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
Arrive at your destination
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 6.3 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.2 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, 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 6.3 miles and 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3.2 mi from Washington Heights, NY · 8m 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.
A short stop after about 6.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 3.2 miles from Washington Heights, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$0.99 one way
$1.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $1.11 | $2.22 |
| premium | $4.86 | $1.21 | $2.41 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $1.16 | $2.33 |
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: 2.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.66 | $0.30 |
| Efficient EV | 1.6 | 0 | $0.55 | $0.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.88 | $0.40 |
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Washington Heights on Saturday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
75°F
The Bronx, NY
3 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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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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