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Trip from Ithaca, NY to East Flatbush, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 59m

Distance

230.3 mi

371 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 46m ★
6 AM
4h 59m
8 AM
5h 26m
10 AM
5h 8m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Tompkins County, New York, USA, enclosed by the town of the same name

Ithaca, NY

Wikimedia Commons

neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, USA

East Flatbush, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ithaca, NY to East Flatbush, NY covers 230.3 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 81, Keystone Shortway, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.5 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.43 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

115.1 miles from Ithaca, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 73.5 mi 1h 28m
Keystone Shortway 63.3 mi 1h 19m
I 380 23.6 mi 25m
Essex Freeway 15.8 mi 20m
State Highway 79 15.2 mi 17m
Slaterville Road 11.1 mi 16m
I 84 3.7 mi 4m
Main Street 3.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 73.5 mi, about 1h 28m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,254 veh/hr typical · worst 5,020

Quietest

1 AM

~471 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ithaca, NY and East Flatbush, NY.

1

Start on NY 79

64 ft · 6 sec · East Seneca Street
2

Turn right onto North Tioga Street

325 ft · 15 sec · North Tioga Street
3

Turn right onto East Buffalo Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · East Buffalo Street
4

Turn right onto Schuyler Place

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Schuyler Place
5

At end of road, turn left onto NY 79

1.1 mi · 2 min · East State Street
6

Continue on NY 79

11 mi · 16 min · Slaterville Road
7

Continue on NY 79

15 mi · 17 min · State Highway 79
8

Continue on NY 79

3.1 mi · 3 min · Main Street
9

Turn right onto NY 26

0.6 mi · 47 sec · NY 26
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 81 South
11

Merge onto I 81

20 mi · 24 min · I 81
12

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.
13

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.
14

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.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
16

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
17

Merge onto I 80

63 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 49 sec
Exit 47A Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
19

Continue on I 280

16 mi · 20 min · Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 17A Toward CR 508 East: Jersey City
21

Merge onto CR 508

2.0 mi · 3 min · Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Continue on NJ 7

0.5 mi · 43 sec · New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
24

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Use the straight lane.
26

Merge onto NJ 139

0.7 mi · 1 min · Conrail Viaduct
27

Continue on NJ 139

0.4 mi · 32 sec · 12th Street Viaduct
28

Continue on I 78

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

1.9 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
30

Take the exit

428 ft · 14 sec
Toward NY 9A
31

Turn slight left onto Laight Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
32

At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Street
Use the straight lane.
33

Take the exit

2.6 mi · 5 min
Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn Use the left lane.
34

Continue on I 278

0.6 mi · 50 sec · Gowanus Expressway
35

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.
36

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.
37

Turn left onto NY 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
38

Continue on NY 27

1.4 mi · 3 min · Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
39

Arrive at destination

NY 27

Trip Plan

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 115.1 miles from Ithaca, NY, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.5 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 51 miles or 1h 6m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 115.1 miles or 2h 22m 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 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Flatbush, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ithaca, 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 Ithaca, NY

This is one driving day of about 230.3 miles and 4h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Ithaca, 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 I 81 for about 73.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nazareth, PA

115 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

Vestal, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

City of Scranton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 115.1 miles from Ithaca, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.5 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 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 52.1 and 222.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
52.1 mi into trip | ~1h 7m 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
105.5 mi into trip | ~2h 11m 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
217.5 mi into trip | ~4h 30m 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
217.7 mi into trip | ~4h 31m 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
222.8 mi into trip | ~4h 43m 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

$37.43 one way

$74.86 round trip

$4.13/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.47 $40.51 $81.02
premium $4.87 $44.12 $88.24
diesel $5.40 $48.99 $97.98

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

$37

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 80.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 69.1 0 $24.18 $11.05
Efficient EV 57.6 0 $20.15 $9.21
EV Truck/SUV 92.1 1 $32.24 $14.74

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 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.

Forecast as of Apr 24, 2026

Origin

Ithaca, NY

Morning in Ithaca on Sunday

Local time

10:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

East Flatbush, NY

Morning in East Flatbush on Sunday

Local time

10:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

8 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

4h 59m 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?

230.3 mi in 4h 59m — 60% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 81.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.5 mi on I 81.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 52.1 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 28 significant decision points across 230.3 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 52.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.5 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.

Between Ithaca, NY and East Flatbush, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Newark and Cr 508 East: Jersey City.

Mt Pocono

105.5 mi in | ~2h 11m | via US 6

Milford

106.2 mi in | ~2h 12m | via I 84; I 380

Newark

197.8 mi in | ~4h 3m

Cr 508 East: Jersey City

214.4 mi in | ~4h 24m

About the Cities

Starting in Ithaca, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1888

Ithaca is a small city in the Finger Lakes region of central New York, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. In addition to being the home of Cornell University and Ithaca College, Ithaca is known for its several gorges and waterfalls, small eclectic shops and restaurants, and deep interest in politics.

Top landmarks

  • Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art — art museum at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
  • Clinton House — former hotel in Ithaca, New York
  • Andrew Dickson White House — Historic home on campus of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Arriving in East Flatbush, 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 4h 59m. Total distance: 230.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73.5 miles on I 81. 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 East Flatbush, 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 52.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at East Flatbush, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.

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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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