If you are looking to escape the city for a quick getaway, the 30.4-mile trip from New York City to Tarrytown is an ideal day trip. Expect a drive time of approximately 54 minutes, depending on traffic conditions in the Northeast corridor. Because the distance is so short, you certainly do not need to split this into an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of only $5, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. The journey transitions you from the dense urban environment of New York City into the more relaxed atmosphere of Tarrytown. It is a straightforward trip that fits perfectly into a single afternoon or morning schedule.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
12.4 mi
16m
Henry Hudson Parkway
4.7 mi
7m
Major Deegan Expressway
4.5 mi
6m
12th Avenue
1.8 mi
5m
West Street
1.8 mi
5m
South Broadway
0.9 mi
2m
West Side Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 12.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Tarrytown, NY.
1
Start on Broadway
79 ft·7 sec·Broadway
2
Turn right onto Chambers Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Chambers Street
3
Turn right onto NY 9A
1.8 mi·5 min·West Street
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on NY 9A
0.4 mi·1 min·11th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on NY 9A
1.8 mi·5 min·12th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on NY 9A
0.8 mi·1 min·West Side Highway
7
Continue on HH; NY 9A
4.7 mi·7 min·Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 14Toward I 95: George Washington BrigdeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: Cross Bronx ExpresswayUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1C-DToward I 87 South, I 87 North: Queens, Albany, Yankee StadiumUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1CToward I 87 North: AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 87
4.5 mi·6 min·Major Deegan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 87
12 mi·16 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 9Toward US 9: Tarrytown, Sleepy HollowUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto NY 119
0.3 mi·42 sec·White Plains Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 9
0.9 mi·2 min·South Broadway
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Main Street
101 ft·2 sec·Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 15.2 miles from New York City, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.9 and 29 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.9 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 95: George Washington Brigde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward I 95: George Washington Brigde
7
10.5 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Cross Bronx Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 North: Cross Bronx Expressway
8
11.3 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I 87 South, I 87 North: Queens, Albany, Yankee Stadium
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 1C-D
Toward I 87 South, I 87 North: Queens, Albany,...
8
11.5 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 North: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1C
Toward I 87 North: Albany
8
29 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward US 9: Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow
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 9
Toward US 9: Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.00 one way
$10.01 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$5.41
$10.82
premium
$4.92
$5.89
$11.78
diesel
$5.61
$6.71
$13.42
Estimated Tolls: $0.62
New York State Thruway
(12.4 mi)$0.62
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
9.1
0
$3.19
$1.46
Efficient EV
7.6
0
$2.66
$1.22
EV Truck/SUV
12.2
0
$4.26
$1.95
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 18, 2026
Origin
New York City, NY
Morning
in New York City on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
E 6 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Destination
Tarrytown, NY
Morning
in Tarrytown on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Inwood, NY
15 mi in
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
8 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
54m 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?
This 30.4-mile journey features a mixed-drive profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate a combination of the Henry Hudson Parkway, the Major Deegan Expressway, and the New York State Thruway. With a highway share of 32%, the road feel fluctuates between heavy urban traffic and more fluid expressway driving. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the New York State Thruway, covering 12.4 miles. Prepare for the road to change as you transition from the complex intersections of the city to the more consistent pace of the Thruway.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.4 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 9.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 30.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
34 ft7 ft
Total Climb
3 ft
Total Descent
27 ft
Highest Point
34 ft
Elevation Range
27 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New York City, NY and Tarrytown, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Yankee Stadium.
New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation.
From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.
Top landmarks
•Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
•National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
•Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
This 30.4-mile drive is an easy same-day round trip from NYC, perfect for a quick weekend escape. You'll be back home in under an hour of driving time.
Family Friendly
While short at 30.4 miles, the 10/10 navigation complexity might be stressful with kids in tow. It's short enough for them, but pack snacks for the drive.
Solo Traveler
At just 30.4 miles and 54 minutes, this is a comfortable solo drive, though the 10/10 complexity might be a bit much for a truly relaxing cruise.
EV Driver
This 30.4-mile trip is easily doable on a single charge for most EVs, with plenty of range to spare for exploring Tarrytown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.62 in tolls one way, starting with New York State Thruway. 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 Tarrytown, 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 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, General Grant National Memorial and Castle Clinton 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 Tarrytown, NY before heading back.
