Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greenwood Lake, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Transitioning from the quiet landscape of Greenwood Lake to the heart of New York City covers 51.2 miles of Northeastern terrain. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting around $8 for fuel is sufficient for the journey, which relies on a mix of local turnpikes and major state roads. Because you are traveling from a scenic lakeside area into a dense urban center, the drive serves as a direct, efficient link between rural New York and the metropolitan hub. It is a straightforward commute that provides a clear path between two distinct regional environments.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 3 | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| Greenwood Lake Turnpike | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| NJ 23 | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Ringwood Avenue | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| US 46 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Jersey Avenue | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Lakeside Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Greenwood Lake, NY and New York City, NY.
Start on NY 210
Continue on CR 511
Turn left onto CR 511
Continue on CR 511
Turn right onto CR 511
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 46
Continue on US 46
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
Continue on US 1; US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Continue on I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
Take the exit
Continue on Beach Street
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
Turn right onto Broadway
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Greenwood Lake, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 46.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 23: Riverdale, Wayne, Butler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 23 South: Riverdale, Wayne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$8.43 one way
$16.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.11 | $18.23 |
| premium | $4.92 | $9.92 | $19.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$17
Total
$25
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Greenwood Lake on Sunday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Destination
Morning in New York City on Sunday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
44°F
Bloomingdale, NJ
26 mi in
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
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.
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 65% of your travel spent on faster-paced roads. You will navigate using a combination of Greenwood Lake Turnpike, NJ 23, and NJ 3 as you move toward your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 10.9-mile segment on NJ 3, which offers a consistent rhythm after the initial local roads. Expect the character of the drive to shift from winding, smaller corridors near the lake to the higher-traffic, multi-lane environment of the New Jersey highway system. It balances technical local navigation with the steady pace of regional arterial roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 3 and Greenwood Lake Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in near CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.2 miles you will encounter 20 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 6.1 miles (CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
315 ft
Total Descent
911 ft
Highest Point
649 ft
~3.7 mi in
Elevation Range
640 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greenwood Lake, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Wayne, Butler, Clifton, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway and Hoboken - among others.
Wayne
Butler
Clifton
Jersey City
Pulaski Skyway
Hoboken
Manhattan
“The City That Never Sleeps” · Founded 1624
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
This 51.2-mile drive is a perfect same-day round trip for a weekend getaway, easily doable in about 1 hour and 16 minutes each way.
Family Friendly
This 51.2-mile drive is short enough for kids, but the 10/10 complexity rating for navigation means you'll want to be extra prepared to avoid stress.
Solo Traveler
At just 51.2 miles and 1 hour 16 minutes, this route is comfortable for a solo drive, though the 10/10 complexity might be a bit much if you're looking for a truly relaxing solo journey.
EV Driver
This route is short enough at 51.2 miles that most EVs can complete it on a single charge, but with 0 EV DC fast chargers, be sure you can make it back or to your destination's charging.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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