The drive from Canandaigua, NY to Washington Heights, NY covers 287.6 miles and takes about 6h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 81, I 380 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly surface roads.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
143.8 miles from Canandaigua, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 81
73.5 mi
1h 28m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
State Highway 96A
17.1 mi
23m
State Highway 79
15.2 mi
17m
Routes 5 and 20
11.2 mi
17m
Slaterville Road
11.1 mi
16m
Trumansburg Road
8.8 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 80 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Canandaigua, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
1
Start on this road
41 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right
114 ft·8 sec
3
Turn right
350 ft·31 sec
4
Turn left onto Parrish Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Parrish Street
5
Turn left onto Middle Cheshire Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Middle Cheshire Road
6
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5; NY 21
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Boulevard
7
Continue on US 20; NY 5
2.0 mi·3 min·Eastern Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 20; NY 5
11 mi·17 min·Routes 5 and 20
9
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi·1 min·Canandaigua Road
10
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.4 mi·3 min·Hamilton Street
11
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.1 mi·1 min·Lake Front Drive
12
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.6 mi·2 min·Waterloo-Geneva Road
13
Turn right onto NY 96A
10 mi·14 min·State Highway 96A
14
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 96A
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 96A
15
Continue on NY 96A
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Street
16
Continue on NY 96
485 ft·13 sec·North Town Line Road
17
Continue on NY 96
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 96
18
Turn left onto Center Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Center Road
19
Turn right onto NY 89
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 89
20
Turn right onto CR 141
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 141
21
Continue on CR 141A
1.5 mi·2 min·Powell Road
22
Turn left onto NY 96
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 96
23
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi·11 sec·Trumansburg Road
24
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
25
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi·12 min·Trumansburg Road
26
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi·2 min·Cliff Street
27
Continue on NY 96
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Buffalo Street
28
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
523 ft·24 sec·Taughannock Boulevard
29
Turn left onto NY 79
510 ft·11 sec·West State Street
30
Turn right onto NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79
345 ft·12 sec·South Fulton Street
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left onto NY 79
0.8 mi·2 min·West Green Street
Use the slight left lane.
32
Continue on NY 79
1.1 mi·2 min·East State Street
33
Continue on NY 79
11 mi·16 min·Slaterville Road
34
Continue on NY 79
15 mi·17 min·State Highway 79
35
Continue on NY 79
3.1 mi·3 min·Main Street
36
Turn right onto NY 26
0.6 mi·47 sec·NY 26
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 South
38
Merge onto I 81
20 mi·24 min·I 81
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
40
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
43
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
44
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
46
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
48
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
50
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
51
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
52
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
53
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
55
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
57
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi·45 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
58
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 9
Exit 1AToward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9
0.2 mi·42 sec·US 9
Toward West 178th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
60
Turn left onto US 9
0.2 mi·34 sec·Broadway
Use the straight / left lanes.
61
Arrive at destination
US 9
Trip Plan
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 143.8 miles from Canandaigua, NY, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 63 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.8 miles or 3h 19m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington Heights, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Canandaigua, 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 Canandaigua, NY
This is one driving day of about 287.6 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Canandaigua, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 80 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 36
5 decision points cluster between mile 168.4 and 287.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 48m 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
282.9 mi into trip|~6h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
283.2 mi into trip|~6h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
287.1 mi into trip|~6h 11m in|US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th...
8
287.2 mi into trip|~6h 11m in|US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9 toward West 178th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward West 178th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.74 one way
$93.48 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$50.59
$101.18
premium
$4.87
$55.10
$110.19
diesel
$5.40
$61.18
$122.35
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$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
$47
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.3
1
$30.20
$13.80
Efficient EV
71.9
0
$25.17
$11.50
EV Truck/SUV
115
1
$40.26
$18.41
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Canandaigua, NY
Evening
in Canandaigua on Sunday
Local time
7:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Washington Heights, NY
Evening
in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
7:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
E 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
42°F
Waverly, PA
144 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 287.6
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 287.6
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 19.8
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 287.6
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 287.6
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 287.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
287.6 mi in 6h 13m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 51% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
61 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 168.4 miles in near US 6.
Driving Effort10/10
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 36 significant decision points across 287.6 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 168.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 282.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.2 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 Canandaigua, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono and Milford.
One of the oldest cities in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Canandaigua has a long history as a major crossroads. Its name derives from a Seneca word meaning "The Chosen Spot", and its position at the northern end of Canandaigua Lake certainly justifies the moniker. With a well-preserved historic downtown, a magnificent 19th-century mansion with gardens, a modern and very trendy wine and culinary center, and (of course) the always-excellent boating on the lake, Canandaigua today has just as much to offer a visitor as it did in its heyday... if not more.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 287.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Washington Heights, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 168.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 282.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Washington Heights, NY before the return drive.
