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Trip from Lyons, NY to Manhattan, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 10m

Distance

290.1 mi

467 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 58m ★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 36m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 17m
3 PM
6h 21m
5 PM
6h 35m
8 PM
6h 3m

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

county seat of Wayne County, New York, United States

Lyons, NY

Wikimedia Commons

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Manhattan, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 290.1-mile journey from Lyons, NY, to Manhattan, NY, is designed for a single day of driving, with an estimated duration of 6 hours and 10 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via I-81, the Keystone Shortway, and I-380, with 52% of the route on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $48. It's a manageable drive that allows for flexibility, though planning for one stop is recommended to break up the 6+ hours. This route takes you from the Northeast region of New York to its bustling heart in Manhattan.

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

145.1 miles from Lyons, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 98.8 mi 1h 57m
Keystone Shortway 80 mi 1h 37m
I 380 23.6 mi 25m
East Lake Road 9.9 mi 14m
State Highway 41 9.8 mi 13m
Clark Street Road 9.6 mi 11m
Geneva Street 7.9 mi 10m
New York State Thruway 6.3 mi 7m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lyons, NY and Manhattan, NY.

1

Start on Canal Street

20 ft · 5 sec · Canal Street
2

Turn left onto NY 14

7.9 mi · 10 min · Geneva Street
3

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Use the right lane.
4

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
5

Merge onto I 90

6.3 mi · 7 min · New York State Thruway
6

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

327 ft · 7 sec
8

Continue on NY 414

0.3 mi · 35 sec · State Route 414
9

Turn left onto NY 318

4.1 mi · 7 min · NY 318
Use the left lane.
10

At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road
11

Continue on US 20; NY 5

9.6 mi · 11 min · Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto State Street

226 ft · 12 sec · State Street
13

Turn left onto Dill Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Dill Street
14

Continue on Loop Road

458 ft · 16 sec · Loop Road
15

Turn left onto Genesee Street

5.5 mi · 9 min · Genesee Street
16

Continue on US 20

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Genesee Street Road
17

Turn right onto NY 41

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Lake Street
18

Continue on NY 41

9.4 mi · 13 min · East Lake Road
19

Continue on NY 41

4.8 mi · 7 min · State Route 41
20

Continue on NY 41

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East Lake Road
21

Continue on NY 41

9.8 mi · 13 min · State Highway 41
22

Turn right onto NY 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · North West Street
23

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min
Use the left lane.
24

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
25

Merge onto I 81

45 mi · 54 min · I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

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.
27

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.
28

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.
29

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
30

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
31

Merge onto I 80

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
32

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level Use the slight right lane.
33

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck Use the slight right lane.
35

Turn right

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Exit 70A Toward Leonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36

Turn straight onto CR 56

454 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue
37

Continue on CR 56

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
38

Continue on CR 56

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street
39

Take the ramp

472 ft · 12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
40

Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41

Take the exit

312 ft · 4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
42

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.3 mi · 20 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
44

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.5 mi · 45 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
45

Take the exit onto US 9

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 9
Exit 1A Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown Use the straight lane.
48

Merge onto HH; NY 9A

4.2 mi · 6 min · Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50

Continue on West 79th Street

0.2 mi · 51 sec · West 79th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
51

Turn left onto Broadway

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Broadway
52

Turn right onto West 86th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 86th Street
53

Continue on 86th Street Transverse

0.2 mi · 35 sec · 86th Street Transverse
Toward East Side Use the straight / left lanes.
54

Arrive at destination

86th Street Transverse

Trip Plan

For this 6-hour and 10-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Lyons, NY, to maximize your time in Manhattan and beat some of the traffic. With just one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading into the more urban areas. The $48 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a buffer. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage when transitioning from I-81 to the Keystone Shortway and I-380, as these are key junctures where the road character changes.

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.1 miles from Lyons, NY, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 64 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 145.1 miles or 3h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lyons, 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 Lyons, NY

This is one driving day of about 290.1 miles and 6h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Lyons, 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 98.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Scranton, PA

145 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

Cortland, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Deposit, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 145.1 miles from Lyons, 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 98.8 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 39

5 decision points cluster between mile 14.6 and 283.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
14.6 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 41 Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
164.9 mi into trip | ~3h 34m 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...
8
279.5 mi into trip | ~5h 50m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
279.8 mi into trip | ~5h 51m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
283.6 mi into trip | ~5h 58m in | US 9

Take the exit onto US 9 toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1A Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.75 one way

$95.50 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $51.64 $103.27
premium $4.92 $56.23 $112.45
diesel $5.61 $64.05 $128.10

Estimated Tolls: $16.32

George Washington Bridge $16.00
New York State Thruway (6.3 mi) $0.32

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

$48

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 101.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 87 1 $30.46 $13.92
Efficient EV 72.5 0 $25.38 $11.60
EV Truck/SUV 116 1 $40.61 $18.57

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (67% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Lyons, NY

Morning in Lyons on Tuesday

Local time

11:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manhattan, NY

Morning in Manhattan on Tuesday

Local time

11:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Sunny

SW 5 to 10 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

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

25 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

6h 10m 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.

General Grant National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

National Memorial

The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 290.1
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
View on nps.gov
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 30
View on nps.gov
Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

National Memorial

Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...

3 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 290.1
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 290.1
View on nps.gov
Women's Rights National Historical Park

Women's Rights National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 20
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument

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...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour Free near mile 290.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 290.1-mile trip. While 52% of the route is on highways, the experience is characterized by frequent changes in road type. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 98.8 miles on I-81. This means you'll transition between faster highway segments and more winding local roads, so staying alert and adapting to varying speed limits and road conditions will be key to a smooth drive.

Only 52% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
54 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 81.

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 14.6 miles in.

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 39 significant decision points across 290.1 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 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 164.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Lyons, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono and Milford.

Clyde

14.6 mi in | ~18m

Mt Pocono

164.9 mi in | ~3h 34m | via US 6

Milford

165.7 mi in | ~3h 36m | via I 84; I 380

About the Cities

Starting in Lyons, NY

Full guide →

Arriving in Manhattan, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1624

Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.

Top landmarks

  • Empire State Building — skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA

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 6h 10m. Total distance: 290.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $16.32 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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 Manhattan, 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 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 164.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Hamilton Grange 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 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Manhattan, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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