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Trip from West Monroe, NY to Brooklyn, NY

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 45m

Distance

274.8 mi

442 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 33m ★
6 AM
5h 46m
8 AM
6h 12m
10 AM
5h 55m
12 PM
5h 52m
3 PM
5h 56m
5 PM
6h 11m
8 PM
5h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

suburb city of Monroe, located in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States

West Monroe, NY

Wikimedia Commons

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Brooklyn, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from West Monroe to Brooklyn spans 275.1 miles, a journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 56 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, you should plan for a full day on the road. Budget roughly $43 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast locations. While the route is manageable as a single-day trip, the winding nature of the roads means you will spend significant time behind the wheel. It is a straightforward trek across New York, but keep in mind that the local road focus requires more active attention than an interstate commute.

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

137.4 miles from West Monroe, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a very different experience than your typical highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate primarily via Route 11, State Route 49, and East Avenue, creating a consistently technical driving experience. With no long, uninterrupted stretches on Route 11, you should be prepared for frequent turns and steady speed adjustments. This is a hands-on drive that demands focus, as the road personality remains local and winding from start to finish. You won't find monotonous interstate miles here, just a constant rotation of local roads that require your full engagement.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 146.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 274.8 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 97.5 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 26 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
3.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 81 South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 81 South
7
97.5 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | I 81

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
150.8 mi into trip | ~3h in | US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
263.1 mi into trip | ~5h 20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
8
268.2 mi into trip | ~5h 32m in

Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between West Monroe, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.

Mt Pocono

150.8 mi in | ~3h | via US 6

Milford

151.6 mi in | ~3h 1m | via I 84; I 380

Newark

243.2 mi in | ~4h 52m

Cr 508 East: Jersey City

259.7 mi in | ~5h 14m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 146.2 mi 2h 54m
Keystone Shortway 63.3 mi 1h 19m
I 380 23.6 mi 25m
Essex Freeway 15.8 mi 20m
I 84 3.7 mi 4m
State Route 49 3 mi 4m
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike 2 mi 3m
Holland Tunnel 1.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 146.2 mi, about 2h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Monroe, NY and Brooklyn, NY.

1

Start on CR 11

41 ft · 1 sec · County Route 11
2

Turn right onto NY 49

3.0 mi · 4 min · State Route 49
3

Continue on NY 49

522 ft · 15 sec · East Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 81 South Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 81

9.3 mi · 10 min · I 81
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I-81

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I-81
7

Continue on I 81

11 mi · 14 min · I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I-81

0.8 mi · 48 sec · I-81
9

Continue on I 81

73 mi · 1 hr 25 min · I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6
Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
14

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
15

Merge onto I 80

63 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 49 sec
Exit 47A Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
17

Continue on I 280

16 mi · 20 min · Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 17A Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
19

Merge onto CR 508

2.0 mi · 3 min · Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on NJ 7

0.5 mi · 43 sec · New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
22

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Use the straight lane.
24

Merge onto NJ 139

0.7 mi · 1 min · Conrail Viaduct
25

Continue on NJ 139

0.4 mi · 32 sec · 12th Street Viaduct
26

Continue on I 78

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

1.9 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
28

Take the exit

428 ft · 14 sec
Toward NY 9A
29

Turn slight left onto Laight Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
30

At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Street
Use the straight lane.
31

Take the exit

2.6 mi · 5 min
Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn Use the left lane.
32

Continue on I 278

0.6 mi · 50 sec · Gowanus Expressway
33

Take the exit onto NY 27

1.5 mi · 2 min · NY 27
Exit 24 Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway Use the slight left / straight lanes.
34

Take the exit onto NY 27

0.4 mi · 47 sec · NY 27
Exit 5 Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center Use the slight right lane.
35

Turn left onto NY 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
36

Continue on NY 27

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
37

Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Nostrand Avenue
38

Arrive at destination

Nostrand Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 4 hour and 56 minute duration, aim to start your day early to avoid fatigue on the technical turns. Since the plan includes one suggested stop, use that break to stretch your legs and reset before tackling the final leg of the 275.1-mile journey. Because this route relies entirely on local roads like East Avenue and State Route 49, keep a close eye on your GPS to navigate the frequent transitions between streets. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't feel pressured to rush through the turns. Always double-check your fuel levels before departing West Monroe, as local roads can lead to unpredictable stop-and-go conditions that affect your overall efficiency.

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 137.4 miles from West Monroe, NY, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.2 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 60 miles or 1h 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 137.4 miles or 2h 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving West Monroe, 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 West Monroe, NY

This is one driving day of about 274.8 miles and 5h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from West Monroe, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 146.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 137.4 mi from West Monroe, NY · 2h 44m into the drive

Downtown Port Jervis, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Port Jervis, NY

137 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

Cortland, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Binghamton, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 137.4 miles from West Monroe, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 146.2 miles.

Arriving in Brooklyn, NY

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.23 one way

$90.47 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 96 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $48.91 $97.82
premium $4.92 $53.26 $106.52
diesel $5.61 $60.67 $121.34

Estimated Tolls: $16.14

Holland Tunnel $16.00
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike (2 mi) $0.14

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

$45

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$86–$111

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 82.4 1 $28.85 $13.19
Efficient EV 68.7 0 $24.04 $10.99
EV Truck/SUV 109.9 1 $38.47 $17.59

Gas CO2

96 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 14, 2026

Origin

West Monroe, NY

Late night in West Monroe on Thursday

Local time

12:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brooklyn, NY

Late night in Brooklyn on Thursday

Local time

12:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 3 to 12 mph 9% chance 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

40 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

5h 45m 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 West Monroe, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 274.8 miles and takes about 5h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Keystone Shortway, I 380. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.4 miles from West Monroe, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.23 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 demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 274.8 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 97.5 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Monroe, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.

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