Origin
Gravesend, NY
Morning in Gravesend on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gravesend, NY to Washington Heights, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
41m
Distance
20 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gravesend, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Washington Heights, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Navigating the 19.5 miles from Gravesend to Washington Heights is a straightforward, single-day endeavor that keeps you entirely within the Northeast region of New York. You should expect the journey to take approximately 52 minutes, though travel times in this urban environment can fluctuate significantly based on local traffic patterns. Since this is a short trip, there is no need for an overnight stay, making it a manageable drive for any schedule. With a fuel cost estimate of $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly transit across the boroughs. Because this route involves zero highway driving, it functions as a pure local commute through the city streets. It is the ideal choice if you are looking for a direct, no-fuss connection between these two specific neighborhoods.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Hudson Parkway | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Coney Island Avenue | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| West Street | 2.4 mi | 6m |
| Prospect Expressway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 12th Avenue | 1.8 mi | 5m |
| West Side Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 11th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Henry Hudson Parkway
— 4.7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gravesend, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
1
Start on Ocean Parkway
99 ft
·
8 sec
·
Ocean Parkway
2
Turn right onto Avenue U
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Avenue U
3
Turn left onto Coney Island Avenue
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Coney Island Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto NY 27
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Church Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto NY 27
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Prospect Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
NY 27
Toward I 278 East: Queens, Bronx
7
Merge onto I 278
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Gowanus Expressway
8
Keep slight left at fork
2.3 mi
·
4 min
Exit 25
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
230 ft
·
10 sec
Toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge
Use the right lane.
10
At end of road, turn right onto NY 9A
2.4 mi
·
6 min
·
West Street
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on NY 9A
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on NY 9A
1.8 mi
·
5 min
·
12th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on NY 9A
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Side Highway
14
Continue on HH; NY 9A
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14
Toward I 95: George Washington Brigde
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
277 ft
·
6 sec
Toward West 178th Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on US 9
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West 178th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto US 9
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Broadway
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
US 9
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 19.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
NY 27 / Church Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27 / Church Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
6.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 25
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
8
8.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel...
7
19 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 95: George Washington Brigde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward I 95: George Washington Brigde
7
19.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward West 178th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward West 178th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.29 one way
$6.58 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.56 | $7.12 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.88 | $7.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.42 | $8.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Washington Heights, NY
Morning in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
41m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention from start to finish. You will spend your entire time on surface streets like Avenue U, Coney Island Avenue, and Church Avenue, as this route features a 0% highway share. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches of road, the experience is defined by constant navigation through city infrastructure. The character of the drive remains consistent throughout, requiring you to navigate local intersections rather than cruising at high speeds. Prepare for a mechanical, stop-and-go experience that reflects the dense, urban nature of the area you are crossing.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.7 mi on Henry Hudson Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 3.6 miles in near NY 27 / Church Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 20 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (NY 27 / Church Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gravesend, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward Bronx and Manhattan.
Bronx
5.7 mi in
|
~11m
|
via NY 27
Manhattan
6.5 mi in
|
~12m
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?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 20 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.7 miles on Henry Hudson Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 3.6 miles (NY 27 / Church Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial and General Grant 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 Washington Heights, 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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