Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
19.6 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bensonhurst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Washington Heights, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Bensonhurst, NY to Washington Heights, NY is 19.6 miles and takes about 40m via Henry Hudson Parkway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within New York, connecting two distinct neighborhoods within the state. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick trip, perhaps to visit friends or explore a different part of the city. The drive primarily uses major parkways and surface streets, making it a straightforward urban transit. You won't need to pack an overnight bag for this one; it's a same-day affair.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Hudson Parkway | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| West Street | 2.4 mi | 6m |
| Prospect Expressway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 12th Avenue | 1.8 mi | 5m |
| Bay Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| McDonald Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| West Side Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 21 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Bensonhurst, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
Start on Bay Parkway
Turn slight left onto McDonald Avenue
Turn right onto Church Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
At end of road, turn right onto NY 9A
Continue on NY 9A
Continue on NY 9A
Continue on NY 9A
Continue on HH; NY 9A
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on US 9
Turn left onto US 9
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 19.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27 toward I 278 East: Queens, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 95: George Washington Brigde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward West 178th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.19 one way
$6.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $3.45 | $6.90 |
| premium | $4.87 | $3.75 | $7.51 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $4.17 | $8.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Bensonhurst on Sunday
Local time
8:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Rain Showers
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 12:05AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Morning in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Rain Showers
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 12:05AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a mixed driving experience with 46% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 4.7 miles on the Henry Hudson Parkway. This means you'll transition between faster parkway speeds and slower surface street conditions. Be prepared for urban merging and traffic patterns as you navigate these different road types.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near NY 27.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 19.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (NY 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bensonhurst, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward Bronx and Manhattan.
Bronx
Manhattan
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 19.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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