Origin
Manhattan, NY
Morning in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
11:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manhattan, NY to Geneva, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 49m
Distance
271.5 mi
437 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 37m
★
6 AM
5h 50m
8 AM
6h 16m
10 AM
5h 59m
12 PM
5h 56m
3 PM
6h 0m
5 PM
6h 15m
8 PM
5h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Geneva, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Manhattan to Geneva is 271.5 miles and takes about 5h 49m via I 81 and US 11, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the bustling Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that's mostly highway, making it a straightforward path. It's a manageable distance for a single day, so you can decide when to depart and how to pace yourself.
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
135.8 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 73.8 mi | 1h 28m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 44.6 mi | 52m |
| US 11 | 30.6 mi | 40m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| State Highway 96A | 17.1 mi | 23m |
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| NJ 3 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Geneva, NY.
1
Start on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
86th Street Transverse
2
Continue on West 86th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 86th Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Columbus Avenue
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Columbus Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on 9th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
9th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto West 41st Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 41st Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto Galvin Avenue
262 ft
·
11 sec
·
Galvin Avenue
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
7
Take the ramp
477 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto NY 495
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto NJ 3
10 mi
·
12 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 46
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 46
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
14
Continue on I 80W
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto I 80
45 mi
·
52 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
20
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
21
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 8
Toward NY 26 North: Whitney Point, Lisle
25
Turn right onto NY 26
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
NY 26
26
At end of road, turn left onto US 11; NY 26
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 11; NY 26
27
Continue on US 11; NY 79
31 mi
·
39 min
·
US 11; NY 79
28
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 79
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Seneca Way
29
Continue on NY 79
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Seneca Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
338 ft
·
15 sec
·
Taughannock Boulevard
31
Turn left onto NY 96
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Buffalo Street
32
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cliff Street
33
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Trumansburg Road
34
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
35
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Trumansburg Road
36
Continue on NY 96
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 96
37
Turn right onto CR 141A
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Powell Road
38
Continue on CR 141
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 141
39
Turn left onto NY 89
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 89
40
Turn left onto Center Road
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Road
41
Turn right onto NY 96
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 96
42
Continue on NY 96
485 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Town Line Road
43
Continue on NY 96A
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Street
44
Continue on NY 96A
17 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 96A
45
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Waterloo-Geneva Road
46
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Lake Front Drive
47
Turn sharp left
227 ft
·
17 sec
48
Turn right
203 ft
·
14 sec
49
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, leaving Manhattan in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight for the latter part of your trip. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Geneva, as services might be more spread out on the non-highway portions. Consider a mid-morning departure to avoid the worst of morning traffic out of Manhattan, allowing for a smoother start to your 271.5-mile 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 135.8 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 60 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.8 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Geneva, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 271.5 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Manhattan, 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 73.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 135.8 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.8 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 335 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 6.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Columbus Avenue
Turn left onto Columbus Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
West 41st Street
Turn right onto West 41st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 495 West: Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey
6
6.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.69 one way
$89.38 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $48.32 | $96.65 |
| premium | $4.92 | $52.62 | $105.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.94 | $119.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln 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
$45
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.5 | 1 | $28.51 | $13.03 |
| Efficient EV | 67.9 | 0 | $23.76 | $10.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.6 | 1 | $38.01 | $17.38 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
Geneva, NY
Morning in Geneva on Tuesday
Local time
11:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
5h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway, with 67% of the drive on roads like I 81. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 73.8 miles on I 81 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a fair number of exits and entries as you navigate these major arteries, particularly as you leave urban areas and head toward more rural cruising.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Columbus Avenue.
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 33 significant decision points across 271.5 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 0.4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West 41st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manhattan, NY and Geneva, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Albany and Lisle.
Del Water Gap
27.8 mi in
|
~40m
Mahwah
28 mi in
|
~40m
|
via I 80W
Albany
178.3 mi in
|
~3h 40m
|
via I 81
Lisle
194 mi in
|
~3h 59m
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Geneva, NY
Full guide →Founded 1793
Geneva is the name of both a town and a city in Ontario County, in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The City of Geneva is surrounded by the Town of Geneva.
Top landmarks
- • St. Peter's Episcopal Church — church building in Geneva, New York, United States of America
- • Ashcroft — historic home located at Geneva, Ontario County, New York, USA
- • Genesee Park Historic District — historic district in Geneva, Ontario County, New York
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 5h 49m. Total distance: 271.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln 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 Geneva, 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 0.4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (West 41st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Geneva, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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