Manhattan, NY to Rush, NY is 317.6 miles and takes about 6h 45m via I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the bustling Northeast region towards another part of the Northeast. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is a solid option if you're looking for a direct path across the state. Most of the driving involves highway travel, making it a relatively straightforward transit.
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
158.8 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
97.3 mi
1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway
44.6 mi
52m
New York State Thruway
41.8 mi
48m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
US 46
10.8 mi
12m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Rush, 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
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
25
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
26
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
27
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
28
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
29
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
30
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
31
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
32
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
33
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
34
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
35
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
36
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
37
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
38
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
39
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
40
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
41
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
42
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
43
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
44
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
45
Merge onto I 90
42 mi·48 min·New York State Thruway
46
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 46Toward I 390: Rochester, CorningUse the slight right lane.
47
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 390 South: Corning
48
Merge onto I 390
2.9 mi·3 min·Genesee Expressway
49
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 11Toward NY 15, NY 251: Rush, Scottsville
50
Turn left onto NY 15
0.3 mi·38 sec·West Henrietta Road
51
Turn left onto NY 251
1.3 mi·2 min·Rush-Scottsville Road
52
Turn right onto NY 15A
105 ft·9 sec·East Henrietta Road
53
Turn sharp left
30 ft·1 sec
54
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 45m estimated drive time, leaving Manhattan in the morning should allow you to reach Rush with plenty of daylight to spare. The single stop recommended suggests you can power through most of this trip without major breaks, but it's always wise to stretch your legs. With a fuel cost estimated at $52, budgeting for gas is straightforward. Pay attention to the transition points between the major highways and surface roads, as this is where your pace will naturally slow and traffic patterns will change.
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 158.8 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 70 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.8 miles or 3h 17m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rush, 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 317.6 miles and 6h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 97.3 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 41
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 312.2 — 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
269.6 mi into trip|~5h 46m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
269.8 mi into trip|~5h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
8
312.2 mi into trip|~6h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 390: Rochester, Corning
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 46
Toward I 390: Rochester, Corning
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.28 one way
$104.56 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$56.53
$113.06
premium
$4.92
$61.56
$123.11
diesel
$5.61
$70.12
$140.24
Estimated Tolls: $18.09
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(41.8 mi)$2.09
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
$52
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.3
1
$33.35
$15.24
Efficient EV
79.4
0
$27.79
$12.70
EV Truck/SUV
127
1
$44.46
$20.33
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 20, 2026
Origin
Manhattan, NY
Morning
in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rush, NY
Morning
in Rush on Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
11 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 45m 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
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
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 251.9
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about half the trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 97.3 miles on I 81. The profile is mostly surface roads, so expect the transition from high-speed cruising to more localized driving. Keep an eye out for the dense exits common on major interstates before you transition to surface streets for the latter half of the drive.
Only 50% 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: 97.3 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 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 41 significant decision points across 317.6 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 269.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 Rush, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Albany.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 317.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 45m 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 97.3 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.09 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 36 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 Rush, 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 36 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 269.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rush, NY before the return drive.
