Spanning 100.5 miles from Poughkeepsie to Staten Island, this trek through the Northeast typically takes about 2 hours and 19 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the journey. The route utilizes a combination of the New York State Thruway, NJ 17, and US 9W. While it is a straightforward drive, it is best approached with the understanding that you will be navigating through varying traffic conditions across New York and New Jersey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.2 miles from Poughkeepsie, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
29 mi
33m
NJ 17
22.7 mi
29m
US 9W
13.9 mi
19m
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
4.7 mi
5m
NJ 440
4.5 mi
6m
NJ 3
4.2 mi
4m
Tonnelle Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
I 84
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 29 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poughkeepsie, NY and Staten Island, NY.
1
Start on Reservoir Square
48 ft·2 sec·Reservoir Square
2
Continue on South Clinton Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·South Clinton Street
3
Turn left onto Little Smith Street
271 ft·11 sec·Little Smith Street
4
Turn slight right
110 ft·5 sec
5
Merge onto US 44; NY 55
0.4 mi·37 sec·Mill Street
6
Turn straight onto US 44; NY 55
0.1 mi·8 sec·East-West Arterial
7
Continue on US 44; NY 55
0.2 mi·17 sec·Columbus Drive
8
Continue on US 44; NY 55
0.4 mi·36 sec·Church Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 44; NY 55
1.6 mi·3 min·Mid-Hudson Bridge
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
11
Merge onto US 9W
14 mi·19 min·US 9W
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto NY 32
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Plank Road
Use the right lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 84 West, NY 52 WestUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 84; NY 52
2.0 mi·2 min·I 84; NY 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 36AToward I 87: New York City, Albany, New York State ThruwayUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on this road
427 ft·10 sec·this road
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·40 sec
Toward I 87 South: New York City
18
Merge onto I 87
29 mi·33 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
23 mi·29 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
23
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi·4 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi·3 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.1 mi·9 sec·Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the left lane.
27
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
28
Continue on NJ 139
0.3 mi·27 sec·12th Street Viaduct
29
Take the exit
236 ft·9 sec
Use the left lane.
30
Turn left onto Jersey Avenue
463 ft·23 sec·Jersey Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139
408 ft·5 sec·14th Street Viaduct
Use the left lane.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78; NJTP
4.7 mi·5 min·New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
Toward NJTP: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 14AToward NJ 440: BayonneUse the right lane.
34
Continue on Port Jersey Boulevard
0.3 mi·17 sec·Port Jersey Boulevard
Toward NJ 440
35
Take the exit
357 ft·8 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Chosin Few WayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 440 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
37
Merge onto NJ 440
4.5 mi·6 min·NJ 440
38
Continue on NY 440
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
39
Take the exit
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 10EToward I 278 East: Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
40
Merge onto I 278
0.8 mi·1 min·Staten Island Expressway
41
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 11Toward I 278 West: Bradley AvenueUse the slight right lane.
42
Turn straight onto South Gannon Avenue
198 ft·8 sec·South Gannon Avenue
43
Turn right onto Bradley Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Bradley Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
Turn slight right onto Brielle Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Brielle Avenue
45
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Rockland Avenue
46
Continue on Richmond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Richmond Road
47
Turn left onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Kensico Street
48
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
284 ft·13 sec·Clarke Avenue
49
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Cotter Avenue
50
Continue on Corona Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Corona Avenue
51
Turn right onto Croft Court
147 ft·6 sec·Croft Court
52
Arrive at destination
Croft Court
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 100.5-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak congestion hours is always wise. You do not need to worry about planning formal stops given the 2 hour and 19 minute duration, but keeping your fuel tank topped off before leaving Poughkeepsie helps maintain that $16 estimate. Pay close attention to the transition between the Thruway and the local roads like US 9W, as the change in speed limits and road density can be abrupt. Because there are no designated stops required for this distance, treat the drive as a continuous push to your destination. Use the fluidity of the local road segments to your advantage by checking live traffic updates before you depart.
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 50.2 miles from Poughkeepsie, NY, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29 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 50.2 miles or 1h 6m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Staten Island, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Poughkeepsie, 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 Poughkeepsie, NY
This is one driving day of about 100.5 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Poughkeepsie, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 29 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 35
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 81.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
17.5 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp toward I 84 West, NY 52 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 84 West, NY 52 West
8
19.7 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward I 87: New York City, Albany, New York State Thruway
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 36A
Toward I 87: New York City, Albany, New York St...
9
50 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
51.4 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.54 one way
$33.09 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$17.89
$35.78
premium
$4.92
$19.48
$38.96
diesel
$5.61
$22.19
$44.38
Estimated Tolls: $2.10
New York State Thruway
(29 mi)$1.45
New Jersey Turnpike
(4.7 mi)$0.65
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
$17
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.2
0
$10.55
$4.82
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
EV Truck/SUV
40.2
0
$14.07
$6.43
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Poughkeepsie, NY
Late night
in Poughkeepsie on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Staten Island, NY
Late night
in Staten Island on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 12 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 8:44AM EDT until April 14 at 9:30AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:13PM EDT until April 16 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
63°F
Ramapo, NY
50 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
21 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
2h 19m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances faster segments with more technical maneuvers. Roughly 55% of your travel time will be spent on highways, providing a mix of high-speed cruising and slower, more attentive navigation. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the New York State Thruway, covering 29 miles before the character of the road shifts. As you progress toward Staten Island, the environment transitions from the more open stretches of the Thruway to the tighter, more localized patterns of NJ 17 and US 9W. Stay alert, as the frequent turns require you to remain engaged with the road layout throughout the entire trip.
Only 55% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
52 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
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 17.5 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 35 significant decision points across 100.5 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 17.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Poughkeepsie, NY and Staten Island, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York State Thruway, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken and Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike - among others.
Poughkeepsie (pronounced "puh-kip-see") is the name of both a town and a city in Dutchess County in New York's Hudson Valley. The City of Poughkeepsie is along the Hudson River on its eastern shore, where the river marks the boundary of the city and of the county (Ulster County is on the other side). The Town of Poughkeepsie encompasses surrounding areas of Dutchess County bordering on the city, and is more suburban in character.
Top landmarks
•Vassar College Observatory — observatory
•Poughkeepsie station — railway station in Poughkeepsie, New York
•Mill Street-North Clover Street Historic District — historic district in Poughkeepsie, New York
Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.
Top landmarks
•Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
•Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 100.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 $2.10 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 Staten Island, 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 17.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Staten Island, NY before heading back.
