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Trip from East Flatbush, NY to Valley Cottage, 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

1h 10m

Distance

39.3 mi

63 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Fair

3 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 5m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m

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

neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, USA

East Flatbush, NY

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Rockland County, New York, United States

Valley Cottage, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 39.3-mile drive from East Flatbush, NY, to Valley Cottage, NY, is an easy 1 hour and 10 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate using the Palisades Interstate Parkway and NY 303, with a portion on Harlem River Drive. With about 60% highway driving, the route offers a mixed experience that's manageable for a single outing. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $6, so you won't need to worry about breaking the bank on gas. This trip is entirely within the Northeast region, so you'll stay within familiar territory throughout your journey.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Palisades Interstate Parkway 13.5 mi 18m
NY 303 5.8 mi 8m
Harlem River Drive 2.3 mi 3m
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge 1.9 mi 3m
Fresh Pond Road 1.5 mi 3m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West 1.1 mi 2m
69th Street 1 mi 2m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Palisades Interstate Parkway — 13.5 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Flatbush, NY and Valley Cottage, NY.

1

Start on NY 27

0.5 mi · 49 sec · Linden Boulevard
2

Turn right onto Remsen Avenue

181 ft · 5 sec · Remsen Avenue
3

Turn right

354 ft · 31 sec
4

Turn left onto Remsen Avenue

196 ft · 4 sec · Remsen Avenue
5

Turn right onto Kings Highway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Kings Highway
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on Tapscott Street

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Tapscott Street
7

Continue on Howard Avenue

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Howard Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Turn right onto Eastern Parkway

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Eastern Parkway
Use the right lane.
9

Turn left onto Rockaway Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Rockaway Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Continue on Cooper Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · Cooper Street
11

Continue on Cooper Avenue

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Cooper Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12

Continue on Cooper Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Cooper Avenue
13

Turn slight left onto 62nd Street

0.2 mi · 1 min · 62nd Street
14

At end of road, turn left onto Myrtle Avenue

335 ft · 11 sec · Myrtle Avenue
15

Turn right onto Fresh Pond Road

1.5 mi · 3 min · Fresh Pond Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16

At end of road, turn right onto Flushing Avenue

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Flushing Avenue
17

Turn straight onto Grand Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Grand Avenue
18

Turn left onto 69th Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · 69th Street
19

Turn left onto Queens Boulevard

285 ft · 9 sec · Queens Boulevard
20

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
21

Merge onto I 278

0.9 mi · 1 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 278

1.1 mi · 2 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Merge onto GCP; I 278

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grand Central Parkway
24

Continue on I 278

1.6 mi · 2 min · Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 46 Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island Use the slight right lane.
26

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 46 Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
27

Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
28

Keep slight right at fork

127 ft · 3 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue Use the slight right lane.
29

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive North Use the slight right lane.
30

Merge onto HRD

2.3 mi · 3 min · Harlem River Drive
31

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 24 Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street Use the slight left lane.
32

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level) Use the slight left lane.
34

Merge onto I 95; US 1

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
35

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.6 mi · 59 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
36

Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.5 mi · 48 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
37

Keep slight right at fork onto Palisades Interstate Parkway

14 mi · 18 min · Palisades Interstate Parkway
Exit 74 Toward Palisades Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 5N Toward NY 303 North: Orangeburg Use the slight right lane.
39

Turn straight onto NY 303

5.8 mi · 8 min · NY 303
Use the straight lane.
40

Turn left onto Lake Road

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Lake Road
Use the left lane.
41

Continue on Lake Road

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Lake Road
42

At end of road, turn right onto Kings Highway

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Kings Highway
43

Turn left onto Maple Road

0.2 mi · 56 sec · Maple Road
44

Turn left onto Fulle Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Fulle Drive
45

Arrive at destination

Fulle Drive

Where to Stop

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

census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, suburb of NYC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Inwood, NY

20 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

Nyack, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Inwood, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from East Flatbush, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 31

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.8 and 16.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
8.8 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan...
8
12.2 mi into trip | ~27m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46 Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
8
13.3 mi into trip | ~29m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street,...
8
16 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 24 Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washingto...
9
16.6 mi into trip | ~35m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washingto...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.47 one way

$12.94 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $7.00 $13.99
premium $4.92 $7.62 $15.23
diesel $5.61 $8.68 $17.35

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.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Tolls

$16

Total

$22

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.8 0 $4.13 $1.89
Efficient EV 9.8 0 $3.44 $1.57
EV Truck/SUV 15.7 0 $5.50 $2.52

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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

East Flatbush, NY

Morning in East Flatbush on Tuesday

Local time

6:52 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Valley Cottage, NY

Morning in Valley Cottage on Tuesday

Local time

6:52 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

47°F

Inwood, NY

20 mi in

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

12 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

1h 10m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending highway speeds with more localized road segments. Approximately 60% of the journey involves highway driving, offering stretches where you can maintain consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted drive is 13.5 miles along the Palisades Interstate Parkway. As you progress, you'll transition from Harlem River Drive onto the Palisades Interstate Parkway and then onto NY 303, experiencing a variety of road types that keep the drive engaging without being overly demanding.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.5 mi on Palisades Interstate Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.8 miles in near I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.3 miles you will encounter 31 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between East Flatbush, NY and Valley Cottage, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, Bronx, Randalls Island and Harlem River Drive North.

Manhattan

8.8 mi in | ~20m | via I 278

Bronx

8.8 mi in | ~20m | via I 278

Randalls Island

12.2 mi in | ~27m

Harlem River Drive North

13.3 mi in | ~29m

About the Cities

Starting in East Flatbush, NY

Full guide →

Arriving in Valley Cottage, NY

Full guide →

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 1h 10m. Total distance: 39.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 13.5 miles on Palisades Interstate Parkway. 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.

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 Valley Cottage, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 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.

Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Valley Cottage, NY before heading back.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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