Origin
Horseheads, NY
Late night in Horseheads on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Horseheads, NY to Brooklyn, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
242.2 mi
390 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 53m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Horseheads, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Brooklyn, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Horseheads, NY to Brooklyn, NY is 242.2 miles and takes about 5h 6m via Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Northeast region, taking you from upstate New York into the New York City metropolitan area. Expect a straightforward trip with a high percentage of highway driving, making it a convenient option for a single-day transit. The total distance is manageable, and the estimated fuel cost is quite low, suggesting an economical option for getting to Brooklyn.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.1 miles from Horseheads, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 63.8 mi | 1h 15m |
| Keystone Shortway | 63.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Essex Freeway | 15.8 mi | 20m |
| I 84 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Newark-Jersey City Turnpike | 2 mi | 3m |
| Holland Tunnel | 1.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Southern Tier Expressway
— 63.8 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Horseheads, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
2
Take the ramp onto NY 13
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
NY 13
3
Merge onto I 86; NY 17; NY 13
64 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380
Exit 4
Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
9
Merge onto I 80
63 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 47A
Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
11
Continue on I 280
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17A
Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
13
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the straight lane.
18
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Conrail Viaduct
19
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
12th Street Viaduct
20
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
22
Take the exit
428 ft
·
14 sec
Toward NY 9A
23
Turn slight left onto Laight Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
24
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit
2.6 mi
·
5 min
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on I 278
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Gowanus Expressway
27
Take the exit onto NY 27
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
NY 27
Exit 24
Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
28
Take the exit onto NY 27
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
NY 27
Exit 5
Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Use the slight right lane.
29
Turn left onto NY 27
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on NY 27
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nostrand Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
Nostrand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the roughly 5-hour drive time, departing in the morning is ideal to avoid late-day traffic, especially as you get closer to Brooklyn. With only one recommended stop and a low fuel cost of around $40, you have flexibility in your pacing. Plan for your fuel and rest breaks during the highway portions, as they offer more service areas. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you enter the greater New York City area, as congestion can significantly impact your arrival time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121.1 miles from Horseheads, NY, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.8 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 53 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.1 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Horseheads, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Horseheads, NY
This is one driving day of about 242.2 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Horseheads, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Southern Tier Expressway for about 63.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.1 miles from Horseheads, 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 63.8 miles.
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 245 decision points cluster between mile 64.9 and 235.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
118.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
|
US 6
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
7
230.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
230.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
8
235.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.87 one way
$79.74 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $43.11 | $86.22 |
| premium | $4.92 | $46.94 | $93.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.47 | $106.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.14
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.14
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
$40
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.7 | 0 | $25.43 | $11.63 |
| Efficient EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.19 | $9.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.9 | 1 | $33.91 | $15.50 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Brooklyn, NY
Late night in Brooklyn on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Ramapo, NY
121 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
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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 68% of the driving on freeways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 63.8 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway before needing to navigate other main roads like the Keystone Shortway and I 81. Expect to see a good number of exits as you approach the metropolitan area, indicating more developed surroundings.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.8 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 64.9 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 24 significant decision points across 242.2 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 64.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Horseheads, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.
Mt Pocono
118.2 mi in
|
~2h 20m
|
via US 6
Milford
119 mi in
|
~2h 22m
|
via I 84; I 380
Newark
210.6 mi in
|
~4h 12m
Cr 508 East: Jersey City
227.1 mi in
|
~4h 34m
About the Cities
Arriving in Brooklyn, NY
Full guide →Founded 1634
Brooklyn, the "Borough of Homes and Churches," is one of the five boroughs of New York City. It used to be a separate city, and still feels much like one. It has about 2.5 million inhabitants. If separated from the rest of New York City, Brooklyn would be the 4th most populous American city. Brooklyn is on the westernmost point of Long Island and shares a land boundary with Queens, which partially encircles Brooklyn to the north, east and south; Manhattan lies across the East River to the west and north of Brooklyn, and Staten Island is across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the southwest. Brooklyn is enjoying a period of growth and affluence not seen since before World War II. The Brooklyn Academy of Music boasts world-class theater performances, and the nearby Barclays Center is the home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
Top landmarks
- • Brooklyn Bridge — bridge in New York City, crossing the East River
- • Brooklyn Museum — art museum in Brooklyn, New York
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 5h 6m. Total distance: 242.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.8 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.14 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Brooklyn, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 64.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brooklyn, NY before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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