The drive from Wawarsing, NY to Elmhurst, NY covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NY 17, NJ 17, United States Highway 209 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.8 miles on NY 17.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.10 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.
Midpoint
48.9 miles from Wawarsing, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 97.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 9m highway drive covering 97.8 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and NJ 17. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.8 miles on NY 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 97.8 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 46.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.1 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.5 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
46.9 mi into trip|~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
9
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
63.5 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
87.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 87 South, I 87 North: Queens, Albany, Yankee Stadium
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 1C-D
Toward I 87 South, I 87 North: Queens, Albany,...
9
96.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Broadway East, 69th Street, Roosevelt Avenue, 37th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward Broadway East, 69th Street, Roosevelt Av...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wawarsing, NY and Elmhurst, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Albany - among others.
Nyst: Albany
46.9 mi in|~55m
New York City
46.9 mi in|~55m
Gsp South: Paterson
77.6 mi in|~1h 34m
Fort Lee
77.6 mi in|~1h 34m
New York
77.6 mi in|~1h 34m
Albany
87.9 mi in|~1h 49m
Yankee Stadium
87.9 mi in|~1h 49m
Manhattan
91.4 mi in|~1h 55m
Queens
91.4 mi in|~1h 55m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
30.8 mi
36m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
United States Highway 209
13.9 mi
16m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Major Deegan Expressway
2.8 mi
4m
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
2.3 mi
4m
North Main Street
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 30.8 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wawarsing, NY and Elmhurst, NY.
1
Start on US 209; NY 55
2.6 mi·2 min·United States Highway 209
2
Continue on US 209
1.8 mi·2 min·North Main Street
3
Continue on US 209
11 mi·11 min·United States Highway 209
4
Continue on US 209
1.1 mi·1 min·Kingston Avenue
5
Continue on US 209
0.8 mi·1 min·United States Highway 209
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward NY 17 East: New York CityUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto NY 17
30 mi·35 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
13
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
16
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
21
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.8 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1C-DToward I 87 South, I 87 North: Queens, Albany, Yankee StadiumUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 1DToward I 87 South: QueensUse the slight left lane.
25
Merge onto I 87
2.8 mi·4 min·Major Deegan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward I 278 West: RFK Bridge, Manhattan, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 278
2.3 mi·4 min·Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 278; GCP
0.8 mi·1 min·Grand Central Parkway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
1.3 mi·1 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
30
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 40Toward Broadway, Roosevelt AvenueUse the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight left at fork
264 ft·8 sec
Toward Broadway East, 69th Street, Roosevelt Avenue, 37th AvenueUse the straight / left lanes.
32
Turn left onto Broadway
1.4 mi·5 min·Broadway
Use the left / straight lanes.
33
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.9 miles from Wawarsing, NY, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.8 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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.9 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmhurst, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wawarsing, 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 Wawarsing, NY
This is one driving day of about 97.8 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Wawarsing, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 30.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.9 mi from Wawarsing, NY
· 58m into the drive
The midpoint is around 48.9 miles from Wawarsing, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elmhurst, NY
The final approach into Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, 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...
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...
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 94.4
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 94.4
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 94.4
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 94.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.10 one way
$32.20 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$17.41
$34.82
premium
$4.92
$18.96
$37.91
diesel
$5.61
$21.59
$43.19
Estimated Tolls: $16.68
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(13.7 mi)$0.68
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
$16
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
40 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Electric Vehicle Charge Point
New York, New York
Other
1 DCFC
ViaLynk Charging Station
Goshen, New York
ViaLynk
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Middletown, New York
Blink
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Mahwah, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Middletown, New York
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Middletown, New York
Tesla
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Central Valley, New York
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
New York, New York
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 18
Other: 11
EV Connect: 3
ViaLynk: 2
Blink: 2
Tesla: 2
EVgo: 1
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.27
$4.69
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.56
$3.91
EV Truck/SUV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wawarsing, NY
Afternoon
in Wawarsing on Friday
Local time
3:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elmhurst, NY
Afternoon
in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
3:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
49 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 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
2h 9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Wawarsing, NY to Elmhurst, NY covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, NJ 17, United States Highway 209. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.9 miles from Wawarsing, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.10 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 97.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.1 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.5 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Wawarsing, NY and Elmhurst, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Albany - among others.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
