Trip from Wilson, NY to Brooklyn, NY

Drive Time

8h 36m

Distance

390.6 mi

629 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

Downtown Brooklyn, NY, NY

Photo: Cristian Pedroso

Trip Overview

Traveling from Wilson to Brooklyn covers 394.7 miles across New York State, a journey that typically takes about 7 hours and 12 minutes. Given the duration, this trip is manageable in a single day, though it requires significant time behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $62 for fuel to complete the trek. Because the route avoids major highways entirely, you will stay off the interstate system, which adds to the travel time but offers a more local experience. Whether you want to power through in one sitting or prefer a leisurely pace, this route is best suited for those who prioritize the journey over sheer speed.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

195.3 miles from Wilson, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel from start to finish. With 0% of the trip spent on highways, you will rely on secondary routes like Ontario Street, East Lake Road, and the Roosevelt Highway to navigate the Northeast landscape. There are no long, monotonous stretches here; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment on Ontario Street is 0 miles, meaning you will encounter frequent turns and intersections. This personality makes the drive feel much more active than a standard interstate cruise. Be prepared to navigate local traffic patterns throughout the entirety of the 394.7-mile transit.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 64 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 98.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 65 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 44 significant decision points across 390.6 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 65 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 44 key points

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

7
65 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 490 East: Rochester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 490 East: Rochester
8
116.3 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in

Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
266.6 mi into trip | ~5h 51m 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
378.9 mi into trip | ~8h 11m 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
384 mi into trip | ~8h 23m 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 Along This Route

Between Wilson, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.

Clyde

116.3 mi in | ~2h 34m

Mt Pocono

266.6 mi in | ~5h 51m | via US 6

Milford

267.4 mi in | ~5h 52m | via I 84; I 380

Newark

359 mi in | ~7h 43m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 98.8 mi 1h 57m
Keystone Shortway 63.3 mi 1h 19m
New York State Thruway 30 mi 34m
East Lake Road 28.1 mi 41m
I 380 23.6 mi 25m
Roosevelt Highway 20.1 mi 28m
Western Expressway 20.1 mi 26m
Essex Freeway 15.8 mi 20m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on NY 425

0.6 mi · 1 min · Lake Street
2

Turn right onto NY 18

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Ontario Street
3

Continue on NY 18

18 mi · 26 min · East Lake Road
4

Continue on NY 18

14 mi · 19 min · Roosevelt Highway
5

Continue on NY 18; NY 98

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Oak Orchard Road
6

Keep slight left at fork onto NY 18

5.7 mi · 8 min · Roosevelt Highway
7

Turn right onto CR 32

2.0 mi · 2 min · Peter Smith Road
8

Turn left onto NY 104

11 mi · 16 min · Ridge Road
9

Turn right onto NY 260

1.9 mi · 3 min · Sweden-Walker Road
10

Turn left onto NY 31

2.5 mi · 3 min · Brockport-Spencerport Road
Use the left lane.
11

Continue on NY 531

7.5 mi · 8 min · NY 531
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 490 East: Rochester Use the none lane.
13

Merge onto I 490

20 mi · 26 min · Western Expressway
Use the none lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
15

Merge onto I 90

30 mi · 34 min · New York State Thruway
Use the none lane.
16

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde Use the slight right lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork

327 ft · 7 sec
18

Continue on NY 414

0.3 mi · 35 sec · State Route 414
19

Turn left onto NY 318

4.1 mi · 7 min · NY 318
Use the left lane.
20

At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road
21

Continue on US 20; NY 5

9.6 mi · 11 min · Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
22

Turn right onto State Street

226 ft · 12 sec · State Street
23

Turn left onto Dill Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Dill Street
24

Continue on Loop Road

458 ft · 16 sec · Loop Road
25

Turn left onto Genesee Street

5.5 mi · 9 min · Genesee Street
26

Continue on US 20

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Genesee Street Road
27

Turn right onto NY 41

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Lake Street
28

Continue on NY 41

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road
29

Continue on NY 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41
30

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road
31

Continue on NY 41

9.8 mi · 13 min · State Highway 41
32

Turn right onto NY 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · North West Street
33

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min
Use the left lane.
34

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
35

Merge onto I 81

45 mi · 54 min · I 81
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
36

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the none lane.
37

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.
38

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.
39

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
40

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
41

Merge onto I 80

63 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
42

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 49 sec
Exit 47A Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
43

Continue on I 280

16 mi · 20 min · Essex Freeway
Use the none lane.
44

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 17A Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
45

Merge onto CR 508

2.0 mi · 3 min · Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the none lane.
46

Continue on NJ 7

0.5 mi · 43 sec · New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
48

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel Use the straight / slight left lanes.
49

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Use the straight lane.
50

Merge onto NJ 139

0.7 mi · 1 min · Conrail Viaduct
51

Continue on NJ 139

0.4 mi · 32 sec · 12th Street Viaduct
Use the none lane.
52

Continue on I 78

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
53

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

1.9 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
54

Take the exit

428 ft · 14 sec
Toward NY 9A
55

Turn slight left onto Laight Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
56

At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Street
Use the straight lane.
57

Take the exit

2.6 mi · 5 min
Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn Use the left lane.
58

Continue on I 278

0.6 mi · 50 sec · Gowanus Expressway
59

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.
60

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.
61

Turn left onto NY 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · Caton Avenue
Use the none lane.
62

Continue on NY 27

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Linden Boulevard
Use the left / none lanes.
63

Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Nostrand Avenue
64

Arrive at destination

Nostrand Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this route is entirely dependent on local roads, you should plan for plenty of variability in your arrival time based on local traffic conditions. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight, as the constant navigation required on local thoroughfares can be more fatiguing than highway driving. You have two scheduled stops built into the itinerary, which are essential for staying alert during the 7-hour and 12-minute commute. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads may not offer the same frequency of service stations as major interstates. Most importantly, remain patient with the frequent turns, as the lack of highway miles means you will be actively driving for the duration of the trip.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 195.3 miles from Wilson, NY, or about 4h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 86 miles or 1h 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 195.3 miles or 4h 26m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 195.3 miles or 4h 26m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 7m

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 Wilson, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Wilson, NY

Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Brooklyn, NY

Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Wilson, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 195.3 mi from Wilson, NY · 4h 26m into the drive

Downtown Syracuse, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Syracuse, NY

195 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Syracuse, NY

Popular next leg

Syracuse, NY to Brooklyn, NY

253.4 mi · 5h 19m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Syracuse, NY

195 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Syracuse, NY after about 195 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Victor, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Syracuse, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 195.3 miles from Wilson, 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 98.8 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 195 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Brooklyn, NY with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$63.59 one way

$127.18 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 137 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $68.91 $137.82
premium $4.88 $75.09 $150.18
diesel $5.64 $86.78 $173.56

Estimated Tolls: $17.64

Holland Tunnel $16.00
New York State Thruway (30 mi) $1.50
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

$64

Tolls

$18

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$211–$321

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 136.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 117.2 1 $41.01 $18.75
Efficient EV 97.7 1 $34.18 $15.62
EV Truck/SUV 156.2 1 $54.68 $25.00

Gas CO2

137 kg

EV CO2

46 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Wilson, NY

Afternoon in Wilson on Sunday

Local time

2:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brooklyn, NY

Afternoon in Brooklyn on Sunday

Local time

2:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

14 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

8h 36m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Wilson, NY to Brooklyn, NY covers 390.6 miles and takes about 8h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Keystone Shortway, New York State Thruway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 195 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 195.3 miles from Wilson, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 44 significant decision points across 390.6 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 65 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Wilson, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.

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