Origin
Watkins Glen, NY
Late night in Watkins Glen on Saturday
Local time
5:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watkins Glen, NY to Manhattan, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 30m
Distance
249.5 mi
402 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 17m
★
6 AM
4h 30m
8 AM
4h 57m
10 AM
4h 40m
12 PM
4h 37m
3 PM
4h 41m
5 PM
4h 56m
8 PM
4h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watkins Glen, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Watkins Glen, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 249.5 miles and takes about 4h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Franklin Street, North Catherine Street, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.07 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
124.8 miles from Watkins Glen, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Watkins Glen, NY
Full guide →Watkins Glen is a small town of 1,863 (2020) in New York's Finger Lakes region. It is famous among motorsports fans for its speedway.
Arriving in Manhattan, NY
Full guide →Founded 1624
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
Top landmarks
- • Empire State Building — skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 249.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 30m drive with frequent turns across 249.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Franklin Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Watkins Glen, NY to Manhattan, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Franklin Street | — | — |
| North Catherine Street | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Watkins Road | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| Southern Tier Expressway | — | — |
| I 81 South | — | — |
| I 84 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Franklin Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watkins Glen, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on East Fourth Street
46 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Fourth Street
2
Turn left onto North Franklin Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Franklin Street
3
Continue on North Catherine Street
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
North Catherine Street
4
Continue on Main Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on Watkins Road
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Watkins Road
6
Continue on North Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
7
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Southern Tier Expressway
64 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton
53 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 81 South: Scranton
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
11
Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380 South: Mount Pocono
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 East: Stroudsburg
14
Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway
80 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
Keystone Shortway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
16
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
17
Keep slight right to continue on Leonia, Teaneck
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Leonia, Teaneck
18
Turn right onto Leonia
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Leonia
19
Turn straight onto Degraw Avenue
453 ft
·
9 sec
·
Degraw Avenue
20
Continue on Fort Lee Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Fort Lee Road
21
Continue on Main Street
469 ft
·
13 sec
·
Main Street
22
Take the ramp left toward George Washington Bridge
472 ft
·
13 sec
·
George Washington Bridge
23
Merge slight left onto Bergen Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Bergen Boulevard
24
Take the exit slight left toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
312 ft
·
5 sec
·
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
25
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
26
Keep slight left
0.8 mi
·
1 min
27
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
28
Take the exit slight right toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
29
Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
30
Keep slight left to continue on NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
31
Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Henry Hudson Parkway
32
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
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
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
33
Continue on West 79th Street
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
West 79th Street
34
Turn left onto Broadway
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway
35
Turn right onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 86th Street
36
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
86th Street Transverse
37
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 124.8 miles from Watkins Glen, NY, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
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 55 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.8 miles or 2h 15m 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 41m
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 Watkins Glen, 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 Watkins Glen, NY
This is one driving day of about 249.5 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Watkins Glen, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.8 mi from Watkins Glen, NY · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 124.8 miles from Watkins Glen, 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
$41.07 one way
$82.14 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $44.41 | $88.82 |
| premium | $4.92 | $48.36 | $96.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.09 | $110.17 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
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
$41
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.9 | 0 | $26.20 | $11.98 |
| Efficient EV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.83 | $9.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.8 | 1 | $34.93 | $15.97 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Late night in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
5:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 30m 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 Watkins Glen, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 249.5 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Franklin Street, North Catherine Street, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.8 miles from Watkins Glen, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.07 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 straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Watkins Glen, NY to Manhattan, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Watkins Glen, NY to Manhattan, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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