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Trip from Caton, NY to Brooklyn, 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

5h 22m

Distance

249.9 mi

402 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 9m ★
6 AM
5h 22m
8 AM
5h 49m
10 AM
5h 31m
12 PM
5h 29m
3 PM
5h 33m
5 PM
5h 48m
8 PM
5h 14m

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

town in Steuben County, New York

Caton, NY

Wikimedia Commons

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Brooklyn, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Caton to Brooklyn is 249.9 miles and takes about 5h 22m via Keystone Shortway and Southern Tier Expressway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a good option for a single-day trip. You'll cover a good distance without excessive time, making it manageable for most drivers.

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

125 miles from Caton, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 63.3 mi 1h 19m
Southern Tier Expressway 58.7 mi 1h 9m
I 81 53.4 mi 1h 3m
I 380 23.6 mi 25m
Essex Freeway 15.8 mi 20m
Hendy Creek Road 5.6 mi 9m
West Water Street 4.4 mi 6m
I 84 3.7 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 63.3 mi, about 1h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

112 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto NY 225

3.6 mi · 6 min · Hendy Hollow Road
3

Continue on NY 225

5.6 mi · 9 min · Hendy Creek Road
4

At end of road, turn right onto NY 352

4.4 mi · 6 min · West Water Street
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
6

Merge onto I 86; NY 17

59 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Southern Tier Expressway
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6
Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
11

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
12

Merge onto I 80

63 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 49 sec
Exit 47A Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
14

Continue on I 280

16 mi · 20 min · Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 17A Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
16

Merge onto CR 508

2.0 mi · 3 min · Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on NJ 7

0.5 mi · 43 sec · New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Use the straight lane.
21

Merge onto NJ 139

0.7 mi · 1 min · Conrail Viaduct
22

Continue on NJ 139

0.4 mi · 32 sec · 12th Street Viaduct
23

Continue on I 78

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

1.9 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
25

Take the exit

428 ft · 14 sec
Toward NY 9A
26

Turn slight left onto Laight Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
27

At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Street
Use the straight lane.
28

Take the exit

2.6 mi · 5 min
Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn Use the left lane.
29

Continue on I 278

0.6 mi · 50 sec · Gowanus Expressway
30

Take the exit onto NY 27

1.5 mi · 2 min · NY 27
Exit 24 Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway Use the slight left / straight lanes.
31

Take the exit onto NY 27

0.4 mi · 47 sec · NY 27
Exit 5 Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center Use the slight right lane.
32

Turn left onto NY 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
33

Continue on NY 27

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
34

Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Nostrand Avenue
35

Arrive at destination

Nostrand Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour duration, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight for the entire trip. With only one day needed, you have flexibility in your departure time, but an early start can help you avoid potential traffic closer to Brooklyn. The estimated fuel cost is around $41, so plan accordingly. Keep in mind the longest stretch without a major break is 63.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so be sure to fuel up before you hit that segment if needed.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125 miles from Caton, NY, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 55 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125 miles or 2h 35m 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 11m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Caton, 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 Caton, NY

This is one driving day of about 249.9 miles and 5h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Caton, 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 63.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Allentown, PA

125 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

Binghamton, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Scranton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 125 miles from Caton, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.3 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 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 72.6 and 243.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
72.6 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | I 81

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
125.9 mi into trip | ~2h 36m 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...
7
238 mi into trip | ~4h 56m in

Take the exit toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
238.2 mi into trip | ~4h 56m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
8
243.3 mi into trip | ~5h 8m in

Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.14 one way

$82.27 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $44.48 $88.96
premium $4.92 $48.44 $96.87
diesel $5.61 $55.17 $110.35

Estimated Tolls: $16.14

Holland Tunnel $16.00
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike (2 mi) $0.14

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

$41

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$82–$107

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 75 0 $26.24 $12.00
Efficient EV 62.5 0 $21.87 $10.00
EV Truck/SUV 100 1 $34.99 $15.99

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Caton, NY

Morning in Caton on Tuesday

Local time

10:38 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brooklyn, NY

Morning in Brooklyn on Tuesday

Local time

10:38 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°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

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

5h 22m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

About 64% of this drive is on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 63.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other main roads. Expect a mostly highway profile for the majority of your travel time. The transition from highway to more local roads will be evident as you get closer to your destination.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Keystone Shortway and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 72.6 miles in near I 81.

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 26 significant decision points across 249.9 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 72.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Caton, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.

Mt Pocono

125.9 mi in | ~2h 36m | via US 6

Milford

126.7 mi in | ~2h 37m | via I 84; I 380

Newark

218.3 mi in | ~4h 28m

Cr 508 East: Jersey City

234.9 mi in | ~4h 50m

About the Cities

Arriving 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

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 5h 22m. Total distance: 249.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 63.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $16.14 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 Brooklyn, 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 72.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brooklyn, 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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