Escaping Manhattan for Tusten, New York, covers approximately 98.6 miles and typically takes 2 hours and 23 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, you can easily complete it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the journey. Since both points are located within the Northeast, you will remain in the same geographic region throughout your travel. This route is best suited for those who prefer navigating local roads over highway driving, as it avoids high-speed interstates entirely.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.3 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NJ 23
34.5 mi
47m
Park Avenue
28.2 mi
41m
Clove Avenue
12.3 mi
17m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
US 46
3.7 mi
4m
Lincoln Tunnel
3.4 mi
6m
East Main Street
2 mi
2m
Columbus Avenue
1.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
NJ 23
— 34.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Tusten, 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
3.7 mi·4 min·US 46
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
14
Merge onto NJ 23
4.6 mi·5 min·NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on NJ 23
30 mi·41 min·NJ 23
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on NJ 23
0.1 mi·7 sec·Loomis Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on NJ 23
0.2 mi·14 sec·Bank Street
18
Continue on NJ 23
12 mi·17 min·Clove Avenue
19
Continue on CR 15
0.3 mi·27 sec·CR 15
Use the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
2.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn straight onto NY 42; NY 97
28 mi·41 min·Park Avenue
22
Turn sharp left onto Crawford Road
0.3 mi·59 sec·Crawford Road
23
Arrive at destination
Crawford Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2-hour and 23-minute trek, consider departing during off-peak hours to avoid heavy traffic congestion on the local roads. Since there are no scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to plan your own breaks whenever you need to stretch your legs. Keep your $16 fuel budget in mind as you prep your vehicle for the trip. Because the route is entirely local, pay close attention to changing speed limits and intersection turns. A smart tip for this specific drive is to use a reliable GPS app to help manage the frequent turns, as the lack of highway signage can make navigation challenging.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.3 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.3 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tusten, 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 98.6 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Manhattan, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NJ 23 for about 34.5 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 15
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
$16.23 one way
$32.46 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$17.55
$35.10
premium
$4.92
$19.11
$38.22
diesel
$5.61
$21.77
$43.54
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
$16
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.6
0
$10.35
$4.73
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.63
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Manhattan, NY
Late night
in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Tusten, NY
Late night
in Tusten on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
63°F
Ramapo, NY
49 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
4 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
2h 23m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies on surface streets like West 86th Street, Columbus Avenue, and 9th Avenue. With a highway share of 0%, you won't experience any high-speed stretches; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on West 86th Street. You should anticipate a technical, hands-on driving experience that requires constant navigation through local infrastructure. It is a slow-paced, deliberate journey that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid transit.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on NJ 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 98.6 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 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
Gently rolling terrain
1,425 ft7 ft
Total Climb
2,234 ft
Total Descent
1,632 ft
Highest Point
1,425 ft
~63.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,418 ft
Notable High Points
1,425 ft at ~63.4 miles+860 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Manhattan, NY to Tusten, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Butler along the way.
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 2h 23m. Total distance: 98.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on NJ 23. 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.
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 Tusten, 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. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tusten, NY before heading back.
