Origin
Brooklyn, NY
Night in Brooklyn on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 38m
Distance
323 mi
520 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brooklyn, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Henderson, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Brooklyn, NY to Henderson, NY is 323 miles and takes about 6h 38m via I 81, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, taking you from the bustling Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a solid choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey, which means you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and fewer traffic delays once you're on the main interstates. Consider this route if your priority is reaching your destination without many detours.
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
161.5 miles from Brooklyn, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 185.1 mi | 3h 38m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 44.6 mi | 52m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| NJ 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| State Route 178 | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn, NY and Henderson, NY.
Start on Nostrand Avenue
Turn right onto Snyder Avenue
Turn right onto Rogers Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27
Turn slight right onto NY 27
Turn right onto Saint Pauls Place
At end of road, turn left onto Parkside Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Fort Hamilton Parkway
Continue on Fort Hamilton Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Ocean Parkway
Take the ramp
Merge 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
Turn right onto Vestry Street
Turn left onto Hudson Street
Take the exit
Merge onto I 78
Continue on I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Turn straight onto NJ 3
Merge onto US 46
Take the exit
Continue on I 80W
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 380
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Continue on I-81
Continue on I 81
Take the exit
Turn right onto NY 178
Continue on NY 178
Arrive at destination
Given the 6h 38m estimated duration, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day journey, so you can plan to leave Brooklyn in the morning and arrive in Henderson by late afternoon. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 185.1-mile stretch on I 81, as services can sometimes be spaced out on longer highway segments. The estimated fuel cost of $53 is a helpful budget marker for planning your expenses on this predominantly interstate route.
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 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 71 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.5 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Henderson, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, NY
This is one driving day of about 323 miles and 6h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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.
A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 161.5 miles from Brooklyn, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 185.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 313.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto Ocean Parkway toward Prospect Avenue, Prospect Expressway North
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 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 178: Adams, Henderson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$53.17 one way
$106.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $57.49 | $114.98 |
| premium | $4.92 | $62.60 | $125.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.31 | $142.63 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$53
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.9 | 1 | $33.91 | $15.50 |
| Efficient EV | 80.8 | 0 | $28.26 | $12.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.2 | 1 | $45.22 | $20.67 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Brooklyn on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Henderson on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
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
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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 77% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 81, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 185.1 miles. While the majority of the trip involves high-speed travel on roads like I 81 and I 380, the initial and final segments may offer a slightly different feel as you navigate out of Brooklyn and approach Henderson. The highway share suggests a generally fast-paced journey, though you should still be prepared for potential traffic, especially when leaving the New York City metropolitan area.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near Ocean Parkway.
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 36 significant decision points across 323 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 1.8 miles (Ocean Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 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 Brooklyn, NY and Henderson, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Albany and Syracuse.
Del Water Gap
Mahwah
Albany
Syracuse
Founded 1634
Brooklyn, the "Borough of Homes and Churches," is one of the five boroughs of New York City. It used to be a separate city, and still feels much like one. It has about 2.5 million inhabitants. If separated from the rest of New York City, Brooklyn would be the 4th most populous American city. Brooklyn is on the westernmost point of Long Island and shares a land boundary with Queens, which partially encircles Brooklyn to the north, east and south; Manhattan lies across the East River to the west and north of Brooklyn, and Staten Island is across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the southwest. Brooklyn is enjoying a period of growth and affluence not seen since before World War II. The Brooklyn Academy of Music boasts world-class theater performances, and the nearby Barclays Center is the home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 38m. Total distance: 323 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 38m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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