Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
6.5 mi
11 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
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.
Kensington, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Kensington to New York City is a quick 6.5-mile journey that typically takes about 13 minutes behind the wheel. Because the distance is so short, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Prospect Expressway, and the Brooklyn Bridge to navigate between these two Northeast locations. With a fuel cost of just $1, this is an incredibly economical route to manage. Whether you are commuting or heading into the city for a brief visit, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a highly efficient option.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Prospect Expressway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Brooklyn Bridge | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| NY 27 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Church Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Reade Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Centre Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kensington, NY and New York City, NY.
Start on Albemarle Road
Turn right onto Coney Island Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27
Turn right onto NY 27
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
Take the exit
Merge onto Brooklyn Bridge
Continue on Centre Street
Turn left onto Reade Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 6.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NY 27 / Church Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto NY 27 / Prospect Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Brooklyn Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Reade Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.07 one way
$2.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $1.16 | $2.31 |
| premium | $4.92 | $1.26 | $2.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.44 | $2.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.68 | $0.31 |
| Efficient EV | 1.6 | 0 | $0.57 | $0.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.91 | $0.42 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Afternoon in Kensington on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Afternoon in New York City on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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 route is heavily highway-focused, with 72% of the trip spent on major thoroughfares. You should be prepared for a fast-paced drive, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 2.1 miles along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The character of the road shifts quickly from local neighborhood access to high-speed expressway travel before transitioning into the bridge crossing. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and connectivity over scenic meandering. Expect a consistent, efficient experience that gets you from point A to point B with minimal deviation.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Prospect Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 27 / Church Avenue.
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 10 decision points packed into just 6.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 13m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 27 / Church Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (NY 27 / Prospect Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
141 ft
Total Descent
153 ft
Highest Point
75 ft
~0.8 mi in
Elevation Range
80 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kensington, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Bronx along the way.
Bronx
“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 6.5-mile drive is an easy same-day round trip, perfect for a quick escape. At only 13 minutes, you'll be back before you know it.
Family Friendly
While short at 6.5 miles, the 9/10 complexity might be stressful with kids in tow. It's definitely short enough to avoid boredom, though.
Solo Traveler
This 13-minute drive is a bit too short to be truly engaging for a solo traveler. You'll spend more time navigating the 9/10 complexity than enjoying the road.
EV Driver
This route is well within range for most EVs, with only 6.5 miles to cover. You won't even need to think about finding a charger.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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