Traveling from Penfield to Manhattan covers 338 miles and typically takes 5 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major highways, it is best suited for a single, focused day of travel. You should budget approximately $53 for fuel to complete the trip. While it technically functions as a one-day journey, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you will need to stay alert throughout the drive. This path stays entirely within the Northeast, moving from the Penfield area down to the dense environment of Manhattan. Since the highway share is 0%, keep in mind that you will be navigating local infrastructure for the duration of the 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
157.8 miles from Penfield, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
New York State Thruway
30 mi
34m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penfield, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on NY 441
121 ft·6 sec·Penfield Road
2
Turn left onto CR 18
0.5 mi·1 min·Five Mile Line Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on CR 17
0.2 mi·23 sec·Whitney Road
4
Turn right onto CR 15
0.1 mi·27 sec·East Linden Avenue
5
Turn left onto Bluff Drive
0.3 mi·49 sec·Bluff Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CR 36
0.9 mi·2 min·North Lincoln Road
7
Continue on CR 38
1.6 mi·3 min·Marsh Road
8
Turn left onto NY 31
0.4 mi·39 sec·Palmyra Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 490 East, I 90: VictorUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 490
5.2 mi·6 min·Eastern Expressway
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
12
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
15
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
16
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
18
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
20
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
21
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
22
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
23
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
24
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
25
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
26
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
27
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
28
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
29
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
30
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
32
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
37
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
38
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
42
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
44
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
46
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
47
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
49
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
51
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi·45 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
52
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 9
Exit 1AToward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, DowntownUse the straight lane.
55
Merge onto HH; NY 9A
4.2 mi·6 min·Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of TechnologyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Continue on West 79th Street
0.2 mi·51 sec·West 79th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
58
Turn left onto Broadway
0.4 mi·56 sec·Broadway
59
Turn right onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West 86th Street
60
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi·35 sec·86th Street Transverse
Toward East SideUse the straight / left lanes.
61
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour and 28 minute duration and the heavy reliance on local roads, planning your departure time is essential to avoid unnecessary congestion. Try to leave early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours, as navigating local turns can be significantly more taxing after dark. With only one recommended stop, pace yourself by breaking up the 338-mile journey at a point that allows you to refuel and stretch your legs before tackling the final stretch into Manhattan. Keep your $53 fuel budget handy, but consider setting aside a small buffer for potential fluctuations in local gas prices. Since you are staying entirely on local routes, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to handle frequent turn-by-turn prompts throughout the entire trip.
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 157.8 miles from Penfield, NY, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 69 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.8 miles or 3h 29m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Penfield, 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 Penfield, NY
This is one driving day of about 315.7 miles and 6h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Penfield, 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 98.8 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 43
5 decision points cluster between mile 40.2 and 309.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
40.2 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
190.5 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
305.1 mi into trip|~6h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
305.4 mi into trip|~6h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
309.2 mi into trip|~6h 31m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.97 one way
$103.93 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$56.19
$112.38
premium
$4.92
$61.19
$122.38
diesel
$5.61
$69.70
$139.41
Estimated Tolls: $17.50
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(30 mi)$1.50
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
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.7
1
$33.15
$15.15
Efficient EV
78.9
0
$27.62
$12.63
EV Truck/SUV
126.3
1
$44.20
$20.20
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Penfield, NY
Late night
in Penfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Late night
in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 15 mph19% 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
20 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
6h 43m 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
near mile 315.7
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 315.7
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...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 315.7
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 315.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical, turn-heavy experience behind the wheel, as this route avoids highways entirely. You will spend your time navigating local roads like Five Mile Line Road, Whitney Road, and East Linden Avenue, which prevents any monotonous interstate cruising. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles, you should be prepared for frequent turns and constant road adjustments. The journey requires your full attention, as the lack of highway miles means you are consistently interacting with local traffic patterns and intersections. This is a hands-on drive that demands focus rather than the passive experience of long-distance highway travel.
Only 50% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
61 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 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 40.2 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 43 significant decision points across 315.7 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 40.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 305.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,866 ft107 ft
Total Climb
2,140 ft
Total Descent
2,454 ft
Highest Point
1,866 ft
~202.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,760 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Penfield, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono and Milford.
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 43m. Total distance: 315.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 43m 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 98.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $17.50 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Manhattan, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 40.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 305.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Manhattan, NY before the return drive.
