Traveling from Malta to New York City covers 175.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes of pure driving time. Because this is a highway-focused route, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $28 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes I-87 and the Adirondack Northway, transitioning you from the Capital District down into the dense urban environment of New York City. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast, you will remain in the same geographic region, making for a straightforward trip through New York State. It is a highly practical drive for those looking to reach the city efficiently.
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
87.6 miles from Malta, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
NJ 17
22.7 mi
29m
Adirondack Northway
20.3 mi
25m
NJ 3
4.2 mi
4m
Tonnelle Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Holland Tunnel
2 mi
4m
NY 17
0.9 mi
<1m
Conrail Viaduct
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Malta, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on this road
155 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Continue on NY 67
0.2 mi·32 sec·Dunning Street
3
Enter roundabout onto NY 67
119 ft·1 sec·Dunning Street
4
Continue on NY 67
0.1 mi·16 sec·Dunning Street
5
Enter roundabout onto NY 67
127 ft·2 sec·Dunning Street
6
Continue on NY 67
0.1 mi·14 sec·Dunning Street
7
Enter roundabout
220 ft·4 sec
8
Continue
0.2 mi·22 sec
9
Merge onto I 87
20 mi·25 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
15
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.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
17
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi·4 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi·3 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the left lane.
21
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
22
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
23
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
25
Take the exit
305 ft·10 sec
Toward BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft·7 sec·Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker StreetUse the straight lane.
27
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi·1 min·Broadway
Use the straight lane.
29
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 35 minute transit, aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid the inevitable congestion that can occur when entering New York City. While the trip is short enough to complete in one go, planning for at least one stop is a smart way to stay refreshed. Given the heavy reliance on I-87, keep an eye on real-time traffic reports to adjust for any potential highway delays. Since you are budgeting $28 for gas, fueling up before hitting the busiest stretches of the route can help you maintain your momentum. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the distance is short enough to allow for a relaxed pace if you choose to break up the drive.
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 87.6 miles from Malta, NY, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.6 miles or 1h 44m 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 49m
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 Malta, 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 Malta, NY
This is one driving day of about 175.2 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Malta, 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 87 for about 118.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 21 and 170.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
21 mi into trip|~26m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
7
21.9 mi into trip|~28m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 87 South: New York
9
139.6 mi into trip|~2h 44m 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
141 mi into trip|~2h 46m 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
170.9 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.84 one way
$57.68 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$31.18
$62.37
premium
$4.92
$33.96
$67.91
diesel
$5.61
$38.68
$77.36
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
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
$29
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.33
$7.01
EV Truck/SUV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.21
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Malta, NY
Morning
in Malta on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New York City, NY
Morning
in New York City on Sunday
Local time
9:26 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
49°F
Ramapo, NY
88 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
10 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
3h 35m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 175.2
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
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 175.2
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 175.2
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 175.2
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 175.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is dominated by a highway-focused profile, with 84% of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a long, consistent rhythm during the longest stretch of the drive, which covers 118.6 miles on I-87. As you progress, the road environment shifts from the more open stretches of the Adirondack Northway toward the busier, more complex transit corridors required to enter the city. You will also navigate segments of NJ-17 as you approach your final destination. Expect a functional, interstate-heavy experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours, keeping you focused on the road ahead.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21 miles in near I 87.
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 19 significant decision points across 175.2 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 21 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
601 ft8 ft
Total Climb
794 ft
Total Descent
1,101 ft
Highest Point
601 ft
~102.2 mi in
Elevation Range
593 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Malta, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York and Buffalo.
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 175-mile drive is totally doable for a weekend trip, especially since it's only about 3.5 hours each way. You'll spend 84% of your time on the highway, so it's a straightforward shot down to NYC and back.
Family Friendly
While the 175-mile drive is short enough for kids, the 9/10 complexity of this route could be a headache for a family trying to navigate into NYC. Stick to the 1 planned break to keep everyone happy.
Solo Traveler
At 175 miles and under 4 hours, this is a comfortable distance for a solo traveler looking to hit NYC. The highway-focused 84% of the route makes it easy to navigate alone, though the 9/10 complexity might require a little extra attention.
First-Time Driver
This 175-mile drive is mostly highway at 84%, which is good for a first-timer, but the 9/10 complexity means it's not the easiest intro. You'll want to be comfortable with high-traffic situations entering NYC.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 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 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 21 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at New York City, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
