Manhattan, NY to Richland, NY is 292.4 miles and takes about 6 hours via I 81 and Christopher Columbus Highway, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York, making it a straightforward Northeast to Northeast connection. Given the predominantly highway profile, expect a relatively efficient transit between these two points. Plan for a single recommended stop, which should be manageable within the 6-hour timeframe. This route is best suited for those prioritizing direct travel over extensive sightseeing.
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
146.2 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
166.2 mi
3h 16m
Christopher Columbus Highway
44.6 mi
52m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
US 46
10.8 mi
12m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
Richland Road
3.4 mi
7m
Lincoln Tunnel
3.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 166.2 mi, about 3h 16m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 246 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,353 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,201
Quietest
1 AM
~459 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Richland, 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
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward 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
66 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: SyracuseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
0.2 mi·17 sec·I 81
Toward SyracuseUse the straight lane.
25
Continue on I-81
0.4 mi·26 sec·I-81
26
Continue on I 81
40 mi·47 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 36Toward NY 13: PulaskiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn left onto NY 13
0.8 mi·1 min·Rome Road
29
Turn right onto US 11
0.3 mi·28 sec·Salina Street
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on US 11
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Jefferson Street
31
Turn right onto CR 2
0.4 mi·36 sec·Maple Avenue
32
Turn slight left onto CR 2
3.4 mi·7 min·Richland Road
33
Continue on County Route 48
446 ft·14 sec·County Route 48
34
Turn left onto North Ridge Road
182 ft·7 sec·North Ridge Road
35
Turn right onto CR 2
0.1 mi·18 sec·Richland-Orwell Road
36
Arrive at destination
CR 2
Trip Plan
To maximize your driving time, consider an early morning departure from Manhattan to avoid peak traffic. With a 6-hour estimated drive and only one recommended stop, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. The longest stretch without an exit is 166.2 miles on I 81, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before entering this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can become less frequent in certain rural stretches. The $48 fuel cost is an estimate, so it’s wise to budget slightly more for unexpected price fluctuations.
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 146.2 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.2 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.2 miles or 3h 2m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richland, 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 292.4 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 166.2 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 2.9 and 286.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
7
180.1 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
7
246.6 mi into trip|~5h in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Syracuse
7
286.9 mi into trip|~5h 48m in
Take the exit toward NY 13: Pulaski
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 36
Toward NY 13: Pulaski
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.18 one way
$102.36 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$55.46
$110.93
premium
$5.23
$60.21
$120.41
diesel
$6.28
$72.25
$144.50
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
$51
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.7
1
$30.70
$14.04
Efficient EV
73.1
0
$25.59
$11.70
EV Truck/SUV
117
1
$40.94
$18.71
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Manhattan, NY
Night
in Manhattan on Thursday
Local time
10:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Richland, NY
Night
in Richland on Thursday
Local time
10:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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
6h 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 is mostly highway, with 74% of the 292.4 miles on major roads like I 81 and I 380. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 166.2 miles on I 81 without needing to exit. Expect a generally consistent cruising experience for the majority of the trip, with the transition to surface roads occurring later in the drive. The dense network of exits on the highway sections means you'll have ample opportunities for services.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.2 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 2.9 miles in.
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 27 significant decision points across 292.4 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 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 180.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,880 ft107 ft
Total Climb
2,485 ft
Total Descent
2,043 ft
Highest Point
1,880 ft
~104.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,773 ft
Notable High Points
1,880 ft at ~104.4 miles+800 ft prominence
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 Richland, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Albany and Syracuse.
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 6h. Total distance: 292.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 166.2 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.
Yes — we found about 31 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 Richland, 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. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 180.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Richland, NY before the return drive.
