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Trip from Plattekill, NY to Washington Heights, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

63.2 mi

102 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

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in New York, USA

Plattekill, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Washington Heights, NY, NY

Washington Heights, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Plattekill, NY to Washington Heights, NY is 63.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via New York State Thruway, NJ 17, and NJ 4, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, beginning and ending in New York. It's a relatively short drive, mostly on highways, making it a straightforward option for a quick transfer or a day trip. Given the short duration, you'll likely find it a manageable drive with minimal need for extensive planning.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New York State Thruway 29 mi 33m
NJ 17 14.1 mi 18m
NJ 4 6.7 mi 9m
Plattekill Turnpike 4.6 mi 8m
Route 300 2.5 mi 4m
I 95 EXPR 1.5 mi 2m
NY 17 0.9 mi <1m
I 287 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 29 mi, about 33m

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 Plattekill, NY and Washington Heights, NY.

1

Start on CR 13

4.6 mi · 8 min · Plattekill Turnpike
2

Continue on NY 300

2.5 mi · 4 min · Route 300
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Continue on NY 300

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Union Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Use the right lane.
5

Continue on this road

427 ft · 10 sec · this road
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 87 South: New York City
7

Merge onto I 87

29 mi · 33 min · New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

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.
9

Continue on I 287; NJ 17

0.5 mi · 39 sec · I 287; NJ 17
10

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.
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
13

Merge onto NJ 4

0.3 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4
Use the right lane.
14

Continue on NJ 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.7 mi · 54 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
18

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.5 mi · 45 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
19

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.
20

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.
21

Turn left onto US 9

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Broadway
Use the straight / left lanes.
22

Arrive at destination

US 9

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Suffern, NY

32 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

Highland Mills, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Suffern, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from Plattekill, 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 37.8 and 62.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
37.8 mi into trip | ~49m 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
39.2 mi into trip | ~50m 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
6
53.4 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
8
62.7 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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
62.8 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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

$10.27 one way

$20.54 round trip

$4.13/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.47 $11.12 $22.23
premium $4.87 $12.11 $24.22
diesel $5.40 $13.44 $26.89

Estimated Tolls: $17.77

George Washington Bridge $16.00
New York State Thruway (29 mi) $1.45
Plattekill Turnpike (4.6 mi) $0.32

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$18

Total

$28

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19 0 $6.64 $3.03
Efficient EV 15.8 0 $5.53 $2.53
EV Truck/SUV 25.3 0 $8.85 $4.04

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 25, 2026

Origin

Plattekill, NY

Late night in Plattekill on Sunday

Local time

5:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Rain

NE 1 to 5 mph 97% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Destination

Washington Heights, NY

Late night in Washington Heights on Sunday

Local time

5:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Rain Showers

E 10 mph 97% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

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

3 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 24m 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?

This route features a 49% highway share, meaning you'll spend nearly half the trip on major roadways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 29 miles on the New York State Thruway. Expect the transition from the high-speed Thruway to surface roads like NJ 17 and NJ 4. You'll notice a mix of cruising and navigating more developed areas with frequent exits as you approach your destination.

49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29 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 37.8 miles in near NY 17.

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 63.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 37.8 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.2 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Plattekill, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.

Gsp South: Paterson

53.3 mi in | ~1h 9m

Fort Lee

53.3 mi in | ~1h 9m

New York

53.3 mi in | ~1h 9m

About the Cities

Starting in Plattekill, NY

Full guide →

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 24m. Total distance: 63.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (49%). 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 29 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $17.77 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 7 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 37.8 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.2 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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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