Traveling from Lakewood to New York City spans 366 miles and typically takes about 7 hours and 53 minutes behind the wheel. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you should budget roughly $58 for fuel to make the trip. While it is technically possible to complete this journey in a single day, the duration makes for a long haul. You will be traveling entirely within the Northeast region, transitioning from the quieter surroundings of Lakewood toward the density of the city. Consider whether you prefer a direct push or if you would rather break the trip into two days to keep your arrival fresh.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183 miles from Lakewood, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
246 mi
4h 39m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
Essex Freeway
15.8 mi
20m
Jackson Run Road
12.5 mi
18m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Hoovertown Road
5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 246 mi, about 4h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on West Summit Street
0.9 mi·3 min·West Summit Street
2
Continue on CR 69
2.6 mi·3 min·Big Tree Road
3
Continue on CR 69
3.9 mi·6 min·Big Tree-Sugar Grove Road
4
Continue on CR 69
1.0 mi·1 min·Big Tree Road
5
Continue on PA 69
0.6 mi·1 min·Forrest Street
6
Turn right onto PA 69; PA 957
403 ft·12 sec·Main Street
7
Turn left onto PA 69
0.3 mi·36 sec·Mechanic Street
8
Continue on PA 69
3.6 mi·5 min·Jackson Run Road
9
Continue on PA 69
0.2 mi·23 sec·Main Street
10
Continue on PA 69
8.8 mi·12 min·Jackson Run Road
11
Turn right onto US 62
2.1 mi·2 min·Market Street
12
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
13
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Hickory Street
14
Continue on Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·24 sec·Hickory Bridge
15
Turn left onto Crescent Park
0.4 mi·57 sec·Crescent Park
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
20
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
21
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
22
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
23
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
24
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
25
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
26
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
27
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
28
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
29
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
30
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
31
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
32
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
33
Merge onto I 80
246 mi·4 hr 39 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 47AToward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
35
Continue on I 280
16 mi·20 min·Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 17AToward CR 508 East: Jersey City
37
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi·3 min·Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi·43 sec·New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the slight right lane.
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
41
Turn straight
0.3 mi·35 sec
Use the straight lane.
42
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
43
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
44
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
46
Take the exit
305 ft·10 sec
Toward BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft·7 sec·Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker StreetUse the straight lane.
48
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi·1 min·Broadway
Use the straight lane.
50
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
To manage the nearly eight-hour duration effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route is turn-heavy, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to navigate local segments before traffic peaks. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 246-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, to ensure you don't run low between service intervals. Because this is a single-day trip, your flexibility is your greatest asset; if the driving feels too demanding, look for a midpoint stop to reset. Prioritize steady pacing over speed to handle the technical nature of these local roads safely.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183 miles from Lakewood, NY, or about 4h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246 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 81 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183 miles or 4h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakewood, NY
This is one driving day of about 366 miles and 7h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Lakewood, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 246 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.7 and 363.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
24.7 mi into trip|~39m in|Crescent Park
Turn left onto Crescent Park
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
341.5 mi into trip|~7h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 47A
Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
7
361.1 mi into trip|~7h 41m 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
361.4 mi into trip|~7h 42m 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
6
363.3 mi into trip|~7h 46m in|I 78 / Holland Tunnel
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78 / Holland Tunnel toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.25 one way
$120.49 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg128 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$65.15
$130.29
premium
$4.92
$70.94
$141.88
diesel
$5.61
$80.81
$161.62
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
$60
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.8
1
$38.43
$17.57
Efficient EV
91.5
1
$32.03
$14.64
EV Truck/SUV
146.4
1
$51.24
$23.42
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Lakewood, NY
Morning
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New York City, NY
Morning
in New York City on Sunday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
E 6 to 14 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
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
16 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
7h 53m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience on this trek, as only 12% of the journey is spent on highways. The route relies heavily on local roads, including the Keystone Shortway, PA 948, and the Essex Freeway. You will encounter a technical, turn-heavy environment that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 246-mile portion on the Keystone Shortway, which provides a brief reprieve from the more frequent navigation required elsewhere. Be prepared for the road to shift personality as you transition from rural local paths to the busier corridors leading into New York.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 246 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 24.7 miles in near Crescent Park.
Driving Effort9/10
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 27 significant decision points across 366 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 24.7 miles (Crescent Park): Lane positioning matters here; at 341.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 361.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,037 ft34 ft
Total Climb
2,583 ft
Total Descent
3,876 ft
Highest Point
2,037 ft
~52.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,003 ft
Notable High Points
2,037 ft at ~52.3 miles+524 ft prominence
1,783 ft at ~130.7 miles+582 ft prominence
1,603 ft at ~261.4 miles+958 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lakewood, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Newark along the way.
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
•Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
•National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
•Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
This route is a full-day commitment, taking nearly 8 hours of driving time. It's feasible for a weekend trip, but be prepared for a long day behind the wheel on day one.
Family Friendly
With a 9/10 complexity and frequent turns, this 366-mile route might be challenging for families. The 2 natural rest stops are a plus, but plan plenty of entertainment for the kids during the 7h 53m drive.
Solo Traveler
This 366-mile drive is manageable for a solo traveler, but the 9/10 complexity means you'll be navigating a lot of turns for the entire 7h 53m estimated driving time. It's an engaging route if you enjoy a more involved driving experience.
Scenic Drive
This route heavily favors non-highway driving, with only 12% on the highway, making it a good option if you prefer exploring local roads. However, the 9/10 complexity suggests a lot of turns and potentially slower speeds over the 366 miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 246 miles on Keystone Shortway. 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 New York City, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.7 miles (Crescent Park): Lane positioning matters here; at 341.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 361.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — African Burial Ground 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New York City, NY before the return drive.
