Transitioning from the quiet landscape of Ellenville to the bustling heart of New York City is a straightforward 94.1-mile journey. You should plan for about 1 hour and 59 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $15, the route is as economical as it is accessible. You will navigate primarily using NY 17, NJ 17, and the New York State Thruway to reach your destination. Because the transit remains entirely within the Northeast, you won't face drastic shifts in regional climate or driving conditions. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from the foothills to the metropolis without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.1 miles from Ellenville, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
30.8 mi
36m
NJ 17
22.7 mi
29m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
United States Highway 209
11.4 mi
13m
NJ 3
4.2 mi
4m
Tonnelle Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Holland Tunnel
2 mi
4m
Kingston Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 30.8 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellenville, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on NY 52
57 ft·4 sec·Center Street
2
Turn right onto US 209
0.7 mi·50 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on US 209
11 mi·11 min·United States Highway 209
4
Continue on US 209
1.1 mi·1 min·Kingston Avenue
5
Continue on US 209
0.8 mi·1 min·United States Highway 209
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward NY 17 East: New York CityUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto NY 17
30 mi·35 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
13
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.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
15
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi·4 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi·3 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the left lane.
19
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
20
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
21
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
23
Take the exit
305 ft·10 sec
Toward BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft·7 sec·Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker StreetUse the straight lane.
25
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi·1 min·Broadway
Use the straight lane.
27
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic entering the city. You don't need to worry about planning formal stops given the sub-two-hour duration, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep in mind that the $15 fuel estimate is a baseline, so ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Ellenville to avoid mid-route refueling. Watch for changing speed limits as you transition from NY 17 onto the busier stretches of the New York State Thruway. Staying alert during the transition between state routes will help you maintain a smooth pace throughout the entire 94.1-mile trek.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.1 miles from Ellenville, NY, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.8 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ellenville, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ellenville, NY
This is one driving day of about 94.1 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ellenville, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 30.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.2 and 89.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.2 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward NY 17 East: New York City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NY 17 East: New York City
8
43.3 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
9
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m 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
59.9 mi into trip|~1h 11m 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
89.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.49 one way
$30.98 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$16.75
$33.50
premium
$4.92
$18.24
$36.48
diesel
$5.61
$20.78
$41.55
Estimated Tolls: $16.68
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(13.7 mi)$0.68
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
$15
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.88
$4.52
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 18, 2026
Origin
Ellenville, NY
Afternoon
in Ellenville on Sunday
Local time
12:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New York City, NY
Afternoon
in New York City on Sunday
Local time
12:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
E 6 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
49°F
Ramapo, NY
47 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
22 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 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is heavily focused on major thoroughfares, with highways accounting for 74% of your total travel time. The road personality leans toward a steady, efficient interstate pace rather than a winding backroad excursion. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stint covering 30.8 miles on NY 17, which sets the tone for the majority of the trip. As you transition between state highways and the New York State Thruway, the driving environment remains consistent and predictable. This is a highway-focused drive designed for getting you to your destination quickly, rather than a leisurely cruise through secondary local roads.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.8 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
937 ft7 ft
Total Climb
931 ft
Total Descent
1,237 ft
Highest Point
937 ft
~15.7 mi in
Elevation Range
930 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ellenville, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Nyst: Albany along the way.
Ellenville is a village within the town of Wawarsing, in Ulster County, part of the Catskills region in New York State. Ellenville is near the intersection of routes NY 52 and US 209.
New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation.
From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.
Top landmarks
•Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
•National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
•Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
This is a straightforward, same-day round trip at under 2 hours and 94 miles each way. You'll be on the highway for 74% of the drive, making it an easy escape.
Family Friendly
While the 1 hour 59 minute drive is short enough for kids, the 10/10 complexity rating for navigation might make this a stressful trip for the driver.
Solo Traveler
With a comfortable 1 hour 59 minute drive mostly on the highway (74%), this route is perfectly manageable solo. However, a complexity score of 10/10 means you'll need to stay alert.
First-Time Driver
This route is a good option for a first-time driver, with a manageable 1 hour 59 minute duration and 74% highway driving. Just be prepared for the challenging 10/10 complexity score.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.8 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.68 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.
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 New York City, 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 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (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 New York City, NY before heading back.
