Origin
Middletown, NY
Late night in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Middletown, NY to Washington Heights, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
61.1 mi
98 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Washington Heights, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Middletown, NY to Washington Heights, NY is 61.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes via NY 17 and NJ 17, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New York State. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. It predominantly utilizes major roadways, making it a straightforward drive for most travelers.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| New York State Thruway | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| I 95 EXPR | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Route 211 East | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Wickham Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| I 287 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 18.5 mi, about 21m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 21 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 Middletown, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
1
Start on Mill Street
81 ft
·
8 sec
·
Mill Street
2
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Highland Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto NY 17M; NY 211
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickham Avenue
5
Continue on NY 211
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 211 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
428 ft
·
11 sec
Toward NY 17 East: Goshen, New York City
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
this road
Exit 121W
Toward I 84 West: Scranton
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto NY 17
18 mi
·
20 min
·
NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 87
14 mi
·
15 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 17
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
14
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 17
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
17
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 EXPR
22
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
23
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 9
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 9
Toward West 178th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn left onto US 9
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Broadway
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
US 9
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from Middletown, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 195 decision points cluster between mile 20.5 and 60.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
9
35.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
37.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th...
8
60.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9 toward West 178th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward West 178th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.93 one way
$19.86 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
| premium | $4.87 | $11.71 | $23.41 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $13.00 | $25.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.68
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(13.7 mi)
$0.68
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$17
Total
$27
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.42 | $2.93 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.55 | $3.91 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Washington Heights, NY
Late night in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Sunny
NE 8 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
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
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 70% of this 61.1-mile drive on highways like NY 17 and NJ 17. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 18.5 miles on NY 17. After the highway portions conclude, expect a transition to surface roads as you approach your destination.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.5 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.1 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Middletown, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Nyst: Albany
20.5 mi in
|
~26m
New York City
20.5 mi in
|
~26m
Gsp South: Paterson
51.2 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Fort Lee
51.2 mi in
|
~1h 4m
New York
51.2 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
Starting in Middletown, NY
Full guide →Founded 1848
Middletown is a city of 28,000 people (2019) in Orange County, New York.
Top landmarks
- • Hillside Cemetery — cemetery in Middletown, New York
Arriving in Washington Heights, NY
Full guide →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 1h 20m. Total distance: 61.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.5 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.68 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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 4 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 Washington Heights, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Washington Heights, NY before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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