Traveling from Cohoes to Staten Island covers 173.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the New York State Thruway, I-787, and NJ-17 to reach your destination. Since the journey stays within the Northeast region, you can easily complete this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $28 for fuel for the duration of the drive. While the route is straightforward, it is best to prepare for a turn-heavy local drive as you approach the city.
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
86.9 miles from Cohoes, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
111.2 mi
2h 8m
NJ 17
22.7 mi
29m
I 787
9.1 mi
12m
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
4.7 mi
5m
NJ 440
4.5 mi
6m
NJ 3
4.2 mi
4m
Tonnelle Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Cohoes Boulevard
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 111.2 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cohoes, NY and Staten Island, NY.
1
Start on Mohawk Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·Mohawk Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Mohawk Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Mohawk Street
3
Turn right onto NY 787
2.1 mi·3 min·Cohoes Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Merge onto I 787
8.5 mi·11 min·I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 787
0.6 mi·1 min·I 787
Exit 1Toward I 87 Toll: New York State Thruway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
7
Merge onto I 87
111 mi·2 hr 8 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
23 mi·29 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
12
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi·4 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi·3 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.1 mi·9 sec·Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the left lane.
16
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
17
Continue on NJ 139
0.3 mi·27 sec·12th Street Viaduct
18
Take the exit
236 ft·9 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto Jersey Avenue
463 ft·23 sec·Jersey Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139
408 ft·5 sec·14th Street Viaduct
Use the left lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78; NJTP
4.7 mi·5 min·New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
Toward NJTP: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 14AToward NJ 440: BayonneUse the right lane.
23
Continue on Port Jersey Boulevard
0.3 mi·17 sec·Port Jersey Boulevard
Toward NJ 440
24
Take the exit
357 ft·8 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Chosin Few WayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 440 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto NJ 440
4.5 mi·6 min·NJ 440
27
Continue on NY 440
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
28
Take the exit
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 10EToward I 278 East: Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
29
Merge onto I 278
0.8 mi·1 min·Staten Island Expressway
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 11Toward I 278 West: Bradley AvenueUse the slight right lane.
31
Turn straight onto South Gannon Avenue
198 ft·8 sec·South Gannon Avenue
32
Turn right onto Bradley Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Bradley Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn slight right onto Brielle Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Brielle Avenue
34
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Rockland Avenue
35
Continue on Richmond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Richmond Road
36
Turn left onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Kensico Street
37
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
284 ft·13 sec·Clarke Avenue
38
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Cotter Avenue
39
Continue on Corona Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Corona Avenue
40
Turn right onto Croft Court
147 ft·6 sec·Croft Court
41
Arrive at destination
Croft Court
Trip Plan
Planning for this 173.8-mile trip is simple since it only requires one planned stop to maintain a comfortable pace. Because the route concludes with a turn-heavy local drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak congestion, which can add frustration to the final miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge throughout the journey to ensure you stay within your $28 budget. Since the trip is manageable in one day, use your flexibility to choose a departure time that allows you to navigate the local roads in daylight. Prioritize your single stop during the longer 111.2-mile Thruway stretch to maximize your efficiency.
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 86.9 miles from Cohoes, NY, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.2 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 38 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.9 miles or 1h 45m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Staten Island, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cohoes, 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 Cohoes, NY
This is one driving day of about 173.8 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Cohoes, 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 New York State Thruway for about 111.2 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 123.3 and 156.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
123.3 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
154.6 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
7
156.1 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
156.1 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|I 78; NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78; NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.61 one way
$57.22 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$30.94
$61.87
premium
$4.92
$33.69
$67.37
diesel
$5.61
$38.37
$76.75
Estimated Tolls: $6.21
New York State Thruway
(111.2 mi)$5.56
New Jersey Turnpike
(4.7 mi)$0.65
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
$29
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.1
0
$18.25
$8.34
Efficient EV
43.5
0
$15.21
$6.95
EV Truck/SUV
69.5
0
$24.33
$11.12
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cohoes, NY
Morning
in Cohoes on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Staten Island, NY
Morning
in Staten Island on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Ramapo, NY
87 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
1 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
3h 40m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 155.8
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 155.8
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 155.8
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 155.8
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 155.8
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 161.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route is a mix of high-speed transit and technical local maneuvering. You will spend roughly 28% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 111.2 miles on the New York State Thruway. Once you transition away from the main interstate sections, the character of the road shifts significantly toward a turn-heavy local drive. This contrast between the open highway and the winding, localized segments requires you to stay alert and ready for changing traffic conditions.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.2 mi on New York State Thruway.
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 123.3 miles in near NY 17.
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 29 significant decision points across 173.8 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 123.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.7 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.6 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 Cohoes, NY and Staten Island, NY, road signs point toward Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken and Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike.
Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.
Top landmarks
•Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
•Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 173.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.2 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.21 in tolls one way, starting with New York State Thruway. 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 Staten Island, 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 123.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.7 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Castle Clinton National Monument, Stonewall National Monument and African Burial Ground National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Staten Island, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
