Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 27m
Distance
159.9 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bushwick, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Latham, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
This 159.9-mile drive from Bushwick, NY, to Latham, NY, is designed for a single day, taking about 3 hours and 27 minutes. With 91% of the route on highways, you'll experience a predominantly high-speed journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $26, making it an economical option for a quick trip. This route focuses on efficient travel between two points in the Northeast region. Given its manageable length and highway focus, it's perfectly suited for a straightforward day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80 miles from Bushwick, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 111.7 mi | 2h 8m |
| NJ 17 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| US 9 | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| I 787 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Harlem River Drive | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Robert F. Kennedy Bridge | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Flushing Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bushwick, NY and Latham, NY.
Start on Linden Street
Turn left onto Cypress Avenue
Turn right onto Flushing Avenue
Turn straight onto Grand Avenue
Turn left onto 69th Street
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
Merge onto GCP; I 278
Continue on I 278
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto HRD
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 4
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on I 287; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
Take the exit
Continue on I 787
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto US 9
Turn right onto Pine Street
Turn left onto Old Loudon Road
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour and 27-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to bypass potential traffic, especially if traveling on a weekday. With only one stop recommended, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps midway through the longest stretch of 111.7 miles on NY 17. The $26 fuel estimate is quite reasonable, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since this is a day trip, you have the flexibility to depart and arrive on your own schedule, making it easy to adjust based on your needs.
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.
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 35 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Latham, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bushwick, 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 Bushwick, NY
This is one driving day of about 159.9 miles and 3h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 80 miles from Bushwick, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.7 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 5.4 and 154.2 — 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 I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 9: Arbor Hill, Loudonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$26.32 one way
$52.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $28.46 | $56.92 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.99 | $61.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.30 | $70.61 |
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
$26
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.68 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $13.99 | $6.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64 | 0 | $22.39 | $10.23 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Late night in Bushwick on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Latham on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
49°F
Ramapo, NY
80 mi in
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
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 highway-focused drive for most of this 159.9-mile trip, with 91% of it spent on faster roads. The primary arteries include NY 17 and NJ 17, guiding you efficiently toward your destination. You'll encounter one significant uninterrupted stretch of 111.7 miles on NY 17, allowing for a long period of steady driving. This route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, characterized by the steady pace of highway travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West.
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 35 significant decision points across 159.9 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 5.4 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.3 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 Bushwick, NY and Latham, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, Randalls Island, Harlem River Drive North, Njtp South: Hackensack, Gsp South and Gsp North - among others.
Manhattan
Randalls Island
Harlem River Drive North
Njtp South: Hackensack
Gsp South
Gsp North
Newark
Mahwah
New York State Thruway North: Albany
Troy
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 159.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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