Origin
Chautauqua, NY
Late night in Chautauqua on Sunday
Local time
12:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chautauqua, NY to Washington Heights, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h
Distance
380.1 mi
612 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
34 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 52m
★
6 AM
8h 1m
8 AM
8h 18m
10 AM
8h 7m
12 PM
8h 5m
3 PM
8h 8m
5 PM
8h 17m
8 PM
7h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chautauqua, NY
Beth Fitzpatrick
Washington Heights, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Chautauqua, NY to Washington Heights, NY is 380.1 miles and takes about 8h via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
190 miles from Chautauqua, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 262.7 mi | 4h 57m |
| PA 948 | 23.8 mi | 35m |
| US 62 | 15.6 mi | 19m |
| Boot Jack Road | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| State Park Road | 8.1 mi | 14m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 5.5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 262.7 mi, about 4h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,076 veh/hr typical · worst 3,665
Quietest
1 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Chautauqua, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
1
Start on Ames Avenue
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Ames Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Ramble Avenue
49 ft
·
3 sec
·
Ramble Avenue
3
Keep slight right at fork
121 ft
·
8 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
134 ft
·
14 sec
5
Turn left onto NY 394
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lake Road
6
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
7
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 12
Toward NY 60: Jamestown
9
Turn right onto NY 60
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Main Street
10
Turn left onto Marvin Parkway
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Marvin Parkway
11
Turn right onto Lakeview Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeview Avenue
12
Turn left onto Newton Avenue
73 ft
·
2 sec
·
Newton Avenue
13
Turn right onto Winsor Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Winsor Street
14
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
this road
15
Turn slight right onto Allen Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Allen Street
16
Continue on Maple Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Maple Street
17
Continue on West Virginia Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Virginia Boulevard
18
Turn right onto Glenview Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Glenview Avenue
19
Turn left onto Martin Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Martin Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto NY 60
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Foote Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 62
16 mi
·
19 min
·
US 62
22
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
23
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Hickory Street
24
Continue on Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Hickory Bridge
25
Turn left onto Crescent Park
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Crescent Park
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto US 6
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Crescent Park
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
30
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
31
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
32
Take the exit
265 ft
·
9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
33
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
34
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
PA 948
35
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
PA 66
36
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi
·
22 min
·
PA 948
37
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
38
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Boot Jack Road
39
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Penfield Road
40
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Hoovertown Road
41
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi
·
14 min
·
State Park Road
42
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
43
Merge onto I 80
263 mi
·
4 hr 57 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level
Use the slight right lane.
45
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
Use the slight right lane.
47
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 70A
Toward Leonia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft
·
9 sec
·
Degraw Avenue
49
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
50
Continue on CR 56
469 ft
·
13 sec
·
Main Street
51
Take the ramp
472 ft
·
12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
52
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Take the exit
312 ft
·
4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
54
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 EXPR
56
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
57
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 9
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 9
Toward West 178th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Turn left onto US 9
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Broadway
Use the straight / left lanes.
60
Arrive at destination
US 9
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour drive time, consider splitting this trip over two days to make it more relaxed, especially since there are 2 recommended stops. Departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach your first stop. Keep an eye on fuel; the estimated cost is $62, and it's wise to refuel before embarking on the longest 262.7-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway if you don't see many stations marked on your map.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 190 miles from Chautauqua, NY, or about 4h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 84 miles or 2h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190 miles or 4h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 190 miles or 4h 22m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 49m
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 Chautauqua, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chautauqua, NY
Aim for roughly 190 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Washington Heights, NY
Aim for roughly 190 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Chautauqua, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 262.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
190 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in South Williamsport, PAOvernight Options
Night 1
190 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near South Williamsport, PA after about 190 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 190 miles from Chautauqua, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 262.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 190 miles or 4 hours on the road.
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 405 decision points cluster between mile 369.9 and 379.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
369.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 46m in
|
I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Lev...
8
375.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 52m 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
375.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 52m 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
379.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 59m 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
379.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 59m 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
$61.77 one way
$123.55 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $66.86 | $133.72 |
| premium | $4.87 | $72.82 | $145.64 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $80.85 | $161.71 |
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
$62
Tolls
$16
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$208–$318
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
34 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Exxon - Tesla Supercharger
Milton, PA
Tesla
16 DCFC
Wawa - Tesla Supercharger
Tannersville, PA
Tesla
16 DCFC
URBN Flavourhaus Lamar - Tesla Supercharger
Mill Hall, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Shell Station - Tesla Supercharger
Drums, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Laurel Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Hazleton, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Wawa - Tesla Supercharger
Blakeslee, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Panther Valley Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Allamuchy, NJ
Tesla
12 DCFC
Burger King - Tesla Supercharger
Clearfield, PA
Tesla
10 DCFC
Tesla: 14
ChargePoint Network: 10
Electrify America: 3
FORD_CHARGE: 1
FCN: 1
eVgo Network: 1
EV Connect: 1
SWTCH: 1
SHELL_RECHARGE: 1
Blink Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 114 | 1 | $39.91 | $18.24 |
| Efficient EV | 95 | 1 | $33.26 | $15.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 152 | 1 | $53.21 | $24.33 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Destination
Washington Heights, NY
Late night in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
12:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Rain Showers
E 10 mph
97% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 380.1
View on nps.gov
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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 380.1
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
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 380.1
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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 380.1
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
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 380.1
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 380.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 14% on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch, 262.7 miles, on the Keystone Shortway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to more rural, surface road driving as you get closer to your destination.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
60 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.7 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 369.9 miles in near I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway.
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 40 significant decision points across 380.1 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 369.9 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 375.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 375.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Washington Heights, NY
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 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 262.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 190 miles on day one.
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.
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 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 369.9 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 375.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 375.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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