Manhattan, NY to Persia, NY is 386.9 miles and takes about 7h 59m via Keystone Shortway and US 219, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, starting and ending in New York. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, making this a more leisurely drive than a pure interstate cruise. With just two recommended stops and a longest stretch of 200 miles, it's a manageable one-day trip that allows for some flexibility.
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
193.4 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
200 mi
3h 44m
US 219
46.5 mi
53m
Christopher Columbus Highway
44.6 mi
52m
US 46
10.8 mi
12m
Bennetts Valley Highway
10.5 mi
16m
Route 353
10.2 mi
14m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
Southern Tier Expressway
8.6 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 200 mi, about 3h 44m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 298 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,993 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,681
Quietest
1 AM
~353 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Persia, 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 JerseyUse 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: SecaucusUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft·7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: CliftonUse 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, MahwahUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water GapUse 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
195 mi·3 hr 35 min·Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 153: Clearfield, Penfield
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
21
Turn straight onto PA 153
7.5 mi·13 min·State Park Road
22
Turn right onto PA 255
7.9 mi·12 min·Bennetts Valley Highway
23
Continue on PA 255
0.2 mi·20 sec·Million Dollar Highway
24
Continue on PA 255
2.6 mi·3 min·Bennetts Valley Highway
25
Turn straight onto PA 255
8.1 mi·12 min·Million Dollar Highway
26
Continue on PA 120; PA 255
0.1 mi·14 sec·South Saint Marys Street
27
Turn right onto PA 120; PA 255
147 ft·3 sec·Railroad Street
28
Turn left onto PA 120; PA 255
382 ft·8 sec·South Michael Street
29
Continue on PA 255
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Michael Street
30
Turn left onto PA 255
0.7 mi·1 min·Maurus Street
31
Continue on PA 255
4.4 mi·6 min·Johnsonburg Road
32
Continue on PA 255
2.3 mi·3 min·Johnsonburg-Saint Marys Road
33
Continue on PA 255
0.8 mi·1 min·Powers Avenue
34
Keep slight right at fork
149 ft·5 sec
35
Merge onto US 219
6.6 mi·7 min·US 219
36
Keep slight right at fork onto US 219
40 mi·44 min·US 219
37
Take the exit onto US 219
0.4 mi·46 sec·US 219
38
Merge onto I 86; US 219; NY 17
8.6 mi·9 min·Southern Tier Expressway
39
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 20Toward NY 417, NY 353: Salamanca
40
Turn right onto NY 417
0.3 mi·26 sec·State Highway 417
41
Continue on NY 417
0.3 mi·57 sec·Broad Street
42
Turn left onto NY 353
1.0 mi·2 min·Center Street
43
Continue on NY 353
5.2 mi·7 min·Route 353
44
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
0.3 mi·31 sec·State Highway 242
45
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
0.9 mi·2 min·Rock City Street
46
Continue on NY 353
1.3 mi·3 min·Erie Street
47
Continue on NY 353
5.1 mi·7 min·Route 353
48
Continue on NY 353
1.5 mi·2 min·South Main Street
49
Continue on NY 353
3.6 mi·5 min·State Highway 353
50
Turn right onto Nash Hill Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Nash Hill Road
51
Turn straight onto Miller Road
1.1 mi·4 min·Miller Road
52
Turn right onto Persia Road
443 ft·19 sec·Persia Road
53
Arrive at destination
Persia Road
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, starting your drive from Manhattan in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight. Plan for your two stops strategically along the route, perhaps splitting the 200-mile segment on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on surface roads where stations might be less frequent. The $67 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to have a little extra buffer for unexpected price changes or detours.
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 193.4 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200 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 85 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.4 miles or 3h 49m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Persia, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 386.9 miles and 7h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Manhattan, 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 200 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 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
$68.35 one way
$136.69 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$73.95
$147.91
premium
$5.28
$80.37
$160.73
diesel
$6.18
$94.12
$188.24
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
$68
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.1
1
$40.62
$18.57
Efficient EV
96.7
1
$33.85
$15.48
EV Truck/SUV
154.8
1
$54.17
$24.76
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Manhattan, NY
Afternoon
in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
1:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 10 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:20AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:29AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
Persia, NY
Afternoon
in Persia on Saturday
Local time
1:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 13 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:20AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:29AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo 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
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
7h 59m 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
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
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 24% highway share, meaning most of your time will be spent on surface roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on the Keystone Shortway, covering 200 miles. Expect a significant transition from highway cruising to navigating more developed surface roads, indicated by a higher density of exits and intersections as you proceed.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 200 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 0.4 miles in near Columbus Avenue.
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 386.9 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,126 ft107 ft
Total Climb
3,174 ft
Total Descent
1,943 ft
Highest Point
2,126 ft
~276.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,019 ft
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 Persia, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Penfield.
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
•Metropolitan Museum of Art — art museum in New York City, United States
•Central Park — public park at the center of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 59m. Total distance: 386.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 59m 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 200 miles on Keystone Shortway. 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.
Yes — we found about 39 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Persia, 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. There are 39 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Persia, NY before the return drive.
