Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 15m
Distance
342.8 mi
552 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Freedom, NY
Paula Nardini
Freedom, NY to Staten Island, NY is 342.8 miles and takes about 7h 15m via Southern Tier Expressway, I 81, and Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive spans across New York and Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast regions. Given its duration and highway profile, it's a straightforward trip best suited for a single day of travel. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a practical option if you need to cover ground efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
171.4 miles from Freedom, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 31m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 140.6 mi | 2h 44m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| Keystone Shortway | 46.1 mi | 59m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Freedom Rushford | 11 mi | 16m |
| NJ 24 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Route 10 East | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| NY 19 | 8.2 mi | 12m |
Step-by-step road directions between Freedom, NY and Staten Island, NY.
Start on CR 23
At end of road, turn left onto NY 98
Turn straight onto NY 243
At end of road, turn right onto NY 19
Turn left onto CR 16
Continue on West Main Street
Enter roundabout onto East Main Street
Continue on East Main Street
Turn right onto Peacock Hill Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on CR 631
Continue on US 46
Continue on US 46
Turn straight onto NJ 10
Continue on NJ 10
Take the exit
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Continue on NJ 24
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 78
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on Winans Avenue
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
Turn left onto CR 628
Continue on CR 628
At end of road, turn right onto CR 623
Continue on CR 623
Turn left onto NJ 439
Turn left onto NJ 439
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278
Continue on I 278
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Gannon Avenue
Turn right onto Bradley Avenue
Turn slight right onto Brielle Avenue
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
Continue on Richmond Road
Turn left onto Kensico Street
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
Continue on Corona Avenue
Turn right onto Croft Court
Arrive at destination
Since this route can be completed in about 7 hours and 15 minutes, it's entirely feasible as a same-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With only 2 planned stops suggested, make them count for fuel and a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer 140.6-mile stretch of the Southern Tier Expressway, to ensure you don't need to detour for gas. The $56 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 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 75 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.4 miles or 3h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Staten Island, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Freedom, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Freedom, NY
This is one driving day of about 342.8 miles and 7h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
171 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.
A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 171.4 miles from Freedom, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 168.8 and 328.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Ledgewood, Lake Hopatcong
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Hillside, Irvington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$56.43 one way
$112.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $61.02 | $122.03 |
| premium | $4.92 | $66.44 | $132.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.69 | $151.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$56
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.8 | 1 | $35.99 | $16.45 |
| Efficient EV | 85.7 | 0 | $29.99 | $13.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.1 | 1 | $47.99 | $21.94 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Freedom on Sunday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Staten Island on Sunday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
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...
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...
National Monument
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...
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...
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...
National Recreation Area
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This trip is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the journey on major roads like the Southern Tier Expressway, I 81, and the Keystone Shortway. Expect long stretches of consistent driving, including one segment of 140.6 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway. The character of the drive is largely about covering distance, with the roads offering a steady pace for most of the 7h 15m duration. It’s less about winding scenic byways and more about efficient travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 168.8 miles in near I 81.
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 39 significant decision points across 342.8 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 168.8 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 222.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 297.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Freedom, NY and Staten Island, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Lake Hopatcong, Morristown Airport, New York City and Newark.
Mt Pocono
Milford
Lake Hopatcong
Morristown Airport
New York City
Newark
Founded 1683
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 15m. Total distance: 342.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Freedom, NY or browse trips ending in Staten Island, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
