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Trip from Brooklyn, NY to Oswego, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 8m

Distance

294.8 mi

474 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 56m ★
6 AM
6h 9m
8 AM
6h 34m
10 AM
6h 18m
12 PM
6h 15m
3 PM
6h 19m
5 PM
6h 33m
8 PM
6h 1m

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

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Brooklyn, NY

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Oswego County, New York, United States

Oswego, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Brooklyn to Oswego is 294.8 miles and takes about 6h 8m via I 81 and I 380, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Most of the driving is on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under seven hours, you can easily complete this route in a single day.

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

147.4 miles from Brooklyn, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 129.5 mi 2h 33m
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
Oswego Road 8.7 mi 12m
I 690 8.6 mi 10m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 129.5 mi, about 2h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Nostrand Avenue

432 ft · 21 sec · Nostrand Avenue
2

Turn right onto Snyder Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Snyder Avenue
3

Turn right onto Rogers Avenue

0.3 mi · 59 sec · Rogers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn left onto NY 27

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5

Turn slight right onto NY 27

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Caton Avenue
6

Turn right onto Saint Pauls Place

0.2 mi · 51 sec · Saint Pauls Place
7

At end of road, turn left onto Parkside Avenue

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Parkside Avenue
8

Enter roundabout onto Fort Hamilton Parkway

266 ft · 5 sec · Fort Hamilton Parkway
9

Continue on Fort Hamilton Parkway

33 ft · 0 sec · Fort Hamilton Parkway
10

Keep slight right at fork onto Ocean Parkway

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Ocean Parkway
Toward Prospect Avenue, Prospect Expressway North
11

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward NY 27 West: Prospect Expressway, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
12

Merge onto NY 27

1.3 mi · 2 min · Prospect Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27

0.4 mi · 46 sec · NY 27
Toward I 278 East: Queens, Bronx
14

Merge onto I 278

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Gowanus Expressway
15

Keep slight left at fork

2.3 mi · 4 min
Exit 25 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork

230 ft · 10 sec
Toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge Use the right lane.
17

At end of road, turn right onto NY 9A

1.1 mi · 3 min · West Street
Use the right lane.
18

Turn right onto Vestry Street

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Vestry Street
19

Turn left onto Hudson Street

374 ft · 18 sec · Hudson Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
20

Take the exit

406 ft · 14 sec
Toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey Use the straight / left lanes.
21

Merge onto I 78

1.8 mi · 3 min · Holland Tunnel
22

Continue on I 78

0.4 mi · 1 min · 14th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139

0.3 mi · 24 sec · 14th Street Viaduct
Toward NJ 139 West: Pulaski Skyway, Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City
24

Continue on NJ 139

0.8 mi · 1 min · NJ 139 Lower Level
25

Continue on NJ 139

406 ft · 7 sec · Pulaski Skyway
26

Take the exit

420 ft · 14 sec
Toward US 1-9 North: Secausus Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Turn right onto US 1; US 9

2.6 mi · 3 min · Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
28

Turn straight onto NJ 3

11 mi · 13 min · NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Merge onto US 46

11 mi · 12 min · US 46
Use the straight lane.
30

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
31

Continue on I 80W

1.6 mi · 1 min · Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah Use the straight / slight left lanes.
32

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap Use the straight / slight left lanes.
33

Merge onto I 80

45 mi · 52 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway
36

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 46 sec
Exit 293 Toward I 380 North: Scranton
37

Continue on I 380

28 mi · 30 min · I 380
Use the straight lane.
38

Merge onto I 81

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
39

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

66 mi · 1 hr 17 min · I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

0.2 mi · 17 sec · I 81
Toward Syracuse Use the straight lane.
42

Continue on I-81

0.4 mi · 26 sec · I-81
43

Continue on I 81

2.9 mi · 4 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
44

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 690 West: Fairgrounds, Baldwinsville Use the slight right lane.
45

Merge onto I 690

8.6 mi · 10 min · I 690
Toward Fairgrounds, Baldwinsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46

Continue on NY 690

7.0 mi · 7 min · NY 690
47

Continue on NY 48

8.7 mi · 12 min · Oswego Road
48

Continue on NY 48

2.4 mi · 3 min · West 1st Street South
49

Continue on NY 48

7.7 mi · 11 min · State Route 48
50

Continue on NY 48

1.2 mi · 1 min · West River Road
51

Continue on NY 48

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 1st Street
52

Turn right onto Water Street

18 ft · 0 sec · Water Street
53

Arrive at destination

Water Street

Trip Plan

Given the 6h 8m estimated drive time, leaving Brooklyn in the morning should allow you to reach Oswego with plenty of daylight. You have flexibility with your stop, but consider breaking up the 129.5-mile stretch on I 81 if you prefer shorter driving segments. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway portions, and note the estimated fuel cost of $49. There is only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly to ensure you stay comfortable throughout the drive.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.4 miles from Brooklyn, NY, or about 3h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.5 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 65 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 147.4 miles or 3h 8m 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 59m

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

Before You Leave

+

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 294.8 miles and 6h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Brooklyn, 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 129.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Deposit, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Deposit, NY

147 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Deposit, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 147.4 miles from Brooklyn, 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 129.5 miles.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 37

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 7.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
1.8 mi into trip | ~4m in | Ocean Parkway

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

Toward Prospect Avenue, Prospect Expressway Nor...
9
4.2 mi into trip | ~9m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 25 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
8
6.5 mi into trip | ~13m in

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

Use the right lane. Toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel...
7
7.8 mi into trip | ~17m in | Hudson Street

Turn left onto Hudson Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
8
7.9 mi into trip | ~17m in

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

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.53 one way

$97.05 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 103 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $52.47 $104.94
premium $4.92 $57.14 $114.28
diesel $5.61 $65.09 $130.18

Estimated Tolls: $16.00

Holland Tunnel $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

$49

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$90–$115

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 88.4 1 $30.95 $14.15
Efficient EV 73.7 0 $25.79 $11.79
EV Truck/SUV 117.9 1 $41.27 $18.87

Gas CO2

103 kg

EV CO2

34 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 20, 2026

Origin

Brooklyn, NY

Morning in Brooklyn on Tuesday

Local time

7:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oswego, NY

Morning in Oswego on Tuesday

Local time

7:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°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.

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

12 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 8m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is mostly highway, with 70% of the drive on major roads like I 81 and I 380. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 129.5 miles on I 81, so be prepared for extended highway cruising. Expect a significant number of exits and merges as you navigate these interstates. The transition to surface roads will occur after the majority of your highway miles are complete.

70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.5 mi on I 81.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 37 significant decision points across 294.8 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 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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Brooklyn, NY and Oswego, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Albany, Syracuse, Baldwinsville and Fairgrounds.

Del Water Gap

35.6 mi in | ~53m

Mahwah

35.9 mi in | ~54m | via I 80W

Albany

186.1 mi in | ~3h 54m | via I 81

Syracuse

254.4 mi in | ~5h 13m | via I 81

Baldwinsville

257.9 mi in | ~5h 18m

Fairgrounds

258.2 mi in | ~5h 19m | via I 690

About the Cities

Starting in Brooklyn, NY

Full guide →

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

  • Brooklyn Bridge — bridge in New York City, crossing the East River
  • Brooklyn Museum — art museum in Brooklyn, New York

Arriving in Oswego, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1796

Oswego (population 17,000 in 2020) is a small city in Central New York on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Oswego River.

Top landmarks

  • Fort Ontario — state historic site of New York, United States
  • Nash — World War II U.S. Army Large Tug (LT) class seagoing tugboat
  • Safe Haven Museum and Education Center — in Oswego, New York

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 294.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 129.5 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Holland Tunnel. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Oswego, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oswego, NY before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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