Spanning 250.6 miles, this journey from Watkins Glen to Staten Island serves as a direct transition from the Finger Lakes region down to the New York City metropolitan area. You should anticipate roughly 4 hours and 37 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip for most travelers. Because the route relies on local roads like North Franklin Street, North Catherine Street, and Main Street rather than major expressways, you will want to factor in the lack of highway relief. Budgeting approximately $41 for fuel is a solid starting point for your planning. Since the entire trip takes place within New York State, you will experience a shift from rural Northeast surroundings to the dense urban environment of the city.
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
125.3 miles from Watkins Glen, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.
Top landmarks
•Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
•Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention throughout the 250.6-mile trek. Unlike a typical interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate surface streets and local thoroughfares for the duration of the trip. Behind the wheel, you will find a road personality that demands constant engagement rather than the monotony of cruise control. The path winds through various communities, forcing you to adjust to changing speed limits and intersection traffic. Prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace as you transition away from the open roads of Watkins Glen toward the final destination in Staten Island.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 53 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 37m 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 Staten Island, 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 Staten Island, 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
46 mi·59 min·Keystone Shortway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 46 East: Ledgewood, Lake Hopatcong
0.3 mi·37 sec·US 46 East: Ledgewood, Lake Hopatcong
16
Continue on Ledgewood Road
0.2 mi·12 sec·Ledgewood Road
17
Continue straight
0.9 mi·1 min
18
Continue straight
213 ft·5 sec
19
Turn straight onto Route 10 East
9.2 mi·11 min·Route 10 East
20
Continue straight
3.5 mi·4 min
21
Take the exit straight toward I 287 South: Morristown, Morristown Airport
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
0.7 mi·1 min·NJ 24 East: Springfield
24
Continue straight
9.3 mi·10 min
25
Keep slight left to continue on I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
0.4 mi·29 sec·I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
26
Keep slight right to continue on I 78 East Local: Newark
0.2 mi·17 sec·I 78 East Local: Newark
27
Merge slight right onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
4.6 mi·5 min·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
28
Take the exit slight right toward Hillside, Irvington
0.1 mi·18 sec·Hillside, Irvington
29
Keep slight right to continue on Hillside
0.1 mi·30 sec·Hillside
30
Continue on Winans Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Winans Avenue
31
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Liberty Avenue
32
Turn left onto Hillside Avenue
0.3 mi·38 sec·Hillside Avenue
33
Continue on Hillside Avenue
0.4 mi·45 sec·Hillside Avenue
34
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Broad Street
2.1 mi·4 min·North Broad Street
35
Continue on Broad Street
1.4 mi·3 min·Broad Street
36
Turn left onto Bayway
0.3 mi·43 sec·Bayway
37
Turn left onto Brunswick Avenue
0.1 mi·11 sec·Brunswick Avenue
38
Take the ramp straight toward I 278 Toll East: Goethals Bridge
0.4 mi·1 min·I 278 Toll East: Goethals Bridge
39
Merge slight right onto Goethals Bridge
1.3 mi·2 min·Goethals Bridge
40
Continue on Staten Island Expressway
2.2 mi·3 min·Staten Island Expressway
41
Keep slight left to continue on Staten Island Expressway
0.9 mi·1 min·Staten Island Expressway
42
Take the exit slight right toward I 278 West: Bradley Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 278 West: Bradley Avenue
43
Turn straight onto South Gannon Avenue
197 ft·9 sec·South Gannon Avenue
44
Turn right onto Bradley Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Bradley Avenue
45
Turn slight right onto Brielle Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Brielle Avenue
46
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Rockland Avenue
47
Continue on Richmond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Richmond Road
48
Turn left onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Kensico Street
49
At the end of the road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
285 ft·14 sec·Clarke Avenue
50
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Cotter Avenue
51
Continue on Corona Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Corona Avenue
52
Turn right onto Croft Court
148 ft·6 sec·Croft Court
53
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 37 minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion on local roads. While the route is manageable in a single day, planning for at least one stop is essential to break up the technical nature of the drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $41 estimate may fluctuate depending on idling time in local traffic. Since you are relying on North Franklin Street and other surface arteries, stay alert for sudden changes in traffic patterns that could impact your arrival time. Your biggest advantage is the flexibility of a one-day trip, so keep your schedule loose to accommodate the winding, turn-heavy nature of the route.
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 125.3 miles from Watkins Glen, NY, or about 2h 18m 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 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 18m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Staten Island, 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 250.6 miles and 4h 37m.
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 125.3 mi from Watkins Glen, NY
· 2h 18m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.25 one way
$82.50 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$44.60
$89.21
premium
$4.92
$48.57
$97.14
diesel
$5.61
$55.33
$110.66
Estimated Tolls: $32.00
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
Goethals 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
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 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
75.2
0
$26.31
$12.03
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.93
$10.02
EV Truck/SUV
100.2
1
$35.08
$16.04
Gas CO2
88 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Watkins Glen, NY
Morning
in Watkins Glen on Saturday
Local time
7:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Staten Island, NY
Morning
in Staten Island on Saturday
Local time
7:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
10 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 37m 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 Staten Island, NY covers 250.6 miles and takes about 4h 37m 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 125.3 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 $41.25 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 37m 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 Staten Island, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Watkins Glen, NY to Staten Island, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
