Traveling from Kinderhook to Brooklyn spans 143.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Because the route is relatively short, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach the city without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $23 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this path takes you from the quiet, upstate region of New York down into the dense urban environment of Brooklyn. It is a straightforward trip for those looking to transition from the Hudson Valley to the heart of the five boroughs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.7 miles from Kinderhook, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
83.1 mi
1h 35m
NJ 17
22.7 mi
29m
NY 9H
8.8 mi
12m
NJ 3
4.2 mi
4m
Union Turnpike
3.1 mi
5m
Tonnelle Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Rhinebeck-Hudson Road
2.4 mi
3m
Holland Tunnel
1.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 83.1 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kinderhook, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
1
Start on US 9
59 ft·7 sec·Chatham Street
2
Turn left onto Hudson Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Hudson Street
3
Take the ramp
387 ft·10 sec
4
Continue on this road
378 ft·12 sec·this road
5
Turn right onto NY 9H
8.8 mi·12 min·NY 9H
6
Turn right onto NY 66
3.1 mi·5 min·Union Turnpike
7
Continue on Columbia Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Columbia Street
8
Turn left onto US 9; NY 23B
168 ft·4 sec·Green Street
9
Continue on US 9; NY 23B
0.6 mi·1 min·Columbia Street
10
Turn left onto NY 9G; NY 23B
0.8 mi·2 min·North 3rd Street
11
Continue on NY 9G; NY 23B
2.0 mi·2 min·Rhinebeck-Hudson Road
12
Take the ramp
341 ft·6 sec
Toward NY 9G, NY 23 West
13
Merge onto NY 9G; NY 23
0.4 mi·33 sec·Rhinebeck-Hudson Road
Use the right lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto NY 23
10 ft·0 sec·Rip Van Winkle Bridge
Toward Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Catskill
15
Continue on NY 23
1.3 mi·2 min·Rip Van Winkle Bridge
Toward Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Catskill
16
Continue on NY 23
1.8 mi·2 min·State Highway 23
Use the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward NYST, I 87: Jefferson Heights, Leeds
18
Turn right onto CR 23B
0.3 mi·44 sec·CR 23B
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward NYST, I 87
20
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·28 sec·this road
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 South: NY City
22
Merge onto I 87
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
24
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
25
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
23 mi·29 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
27
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi·4 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi·3 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.1 mi·9 sec·Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the left lane.
31
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
32
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
33
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
1.9 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
35
Take the exit
428 ft·14 sec
Toward NY 9A
36
Turn slight left onto Laight Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
37
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
0.9 mi·2 min·West Street
Use the straight lane.
38
Take the exit
2.6 mi·5 min
Exit 2Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, BrooklynUse the left lane.
39
Continue on I 278
0.6 mi·50 sec·Gowanus Expressway
40
Take the exit onto NY 27
1.5 mi·2 min·NY 27
Exit 24Toward NY 27 East: Prospect ExpresswayUse the slight left / straight lanes.
41
Take the exit onto NY 27
0.4 mi·47 sec·NY 27
Exit 5Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical CenterUse the slight right lane.
42
Turn left onto NY 27
1.2 mi·2 min·Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
43
Continue on NY 27
0.4 mi·31 sec·Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
44
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Nostrand Avenue
45
Arrive at destination
Nostrand Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 51-minute journey, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, because you are relying on local roads for the entire 143.9 miles, be mindful that traffic volume can quickly impact your total travel time. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops to break up the drive, but keeping a small buffer in your schedule is wise to account for local road conditions. Before heading out, ensure you have your $23 fuel budget set aside so you can navigate the final stretch into Brooklyn without stress. A pro tip for this specific route is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the lack of highway travel means you will be relying heavily on your navigation system throughout the entire duration.
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 73.7 miles from Kinderhook, NY, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.1 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 32 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.7 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Kinderhook, 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 Kinderhook, NY
This is one driving day of about 147.4 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Kinderhook, 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 New York State Thruway for about 83.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 31
5 decision points cluster between mile 104.7 and 143.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
104.7 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
106.1 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
136 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
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
Use the left lane.
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
140.7 mi into trip|~3h 3m 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
7
143.9 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|NY 27
Take the exit onto NY 27 toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 24
Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.26 one way
$48.53 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$26.24
$52.47
premium
$4.92
$28.57
$57.14
diesel
$5.61
$32.54
$65.09
Estimated Tolls: $20.38
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(83.1 mi)$4.16
Union Turnpike
(3.1 mi)$0.22
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
$24
Tolls
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.48
$7.08
Efficient EV
36.9
0
$12.90
$5.90
EV Truck/SUV
59
0
$20.64
$9.43
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Kinderhook, NY
Morning
in Kinderhook on Tuesday
Local time
6:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brooklyn, NY
Morning
in Brooklyn on Tuesday
Local time
6:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
63°F
Ramapo, NY
74 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
6 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
3h 16m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Governors Island National Monument
National Monument
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 142.3
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 142.3
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 142.3
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 142.3
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 142.3
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 137.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway travel. You will spend your time navigating local roads, which keeps the driving engaging and requires your full attention. Since there are no designated long, uninterrupted stretches, the pace of the drive remains consistent rather than fast. The character of the road changes significantly as you move away from Kinderhook and gradually merge into the increasingly complex traffic patterns approaching Brooklyn. Prepare for a hands-on experience behind the wheel that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed transit.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.1 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 104.7 miles in near NY 17.
Driving Effort10/10
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 31 significant decision points across 147.4 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 104.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136 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 Kinderhook, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Catskill, Nyst, Leeds, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway and Hoboken - among others.
Kinderhook is a village and a township in Columbia County in the state of New York, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Albany. The village of Kinderhook is a pretty town in a very rural area of New York State. Its center is small and well worth looking at, and some very nice private houses extend for some way to the south on Route 9, blending without a break into the village of Stuyvesant. One of its principle claims to fame is being the hometown of Martin Van Buren, the 8th President of the United States.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 147.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.1 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $20.38 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 104.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Governors Island National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Brooklyn, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
