Traveling from Rathbone to New York City covers 265.5 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 36 minutes. This highway-focused trip is designed for a single day of travel, making it a straightforward trek from the Southern Tier to the coast. You should budget approximately $42 for fuel to complete the journey. Because the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like the Southern Tier Expressway, the Keystone Shortway, and I-81, you can expect a fairly efficient transition between these two New York locations. It is an ideal route if you prioritize speed and direct access over wandering local backroads.
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
132.7 miles from Rathbone, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 196 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,211 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,106
Quietest
1 AM
~488 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Rathbone, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on CR 21
0.2 mi·36 sec·County Route 21
2
Turn straight onto CR 119
4.2 mi·10 min·County Route 119
3
Continue on West Front Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Front Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto NY 417
1.1 mi·1 min·Front Street
5
Continue on NY 417
365 ft·6 sec·State Highway 417
6
Continue on NY 417
3.5 mi·5 min·Addison Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 15 North
8
Merge onto I 99; US 15
3.6 mi·4 min·I 99; US 15
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 13A-BToward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 13AToward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
11
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
80 mi·1 hr 34 min·Southern Tier Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
13
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.
14
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.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
17
Merge onto I 80
63 mi·1 hr 19 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 47AToward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
19
Continue on I 280
16 mi·20 min·Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 17AToward CR 508 East: Jersey City
21
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi·3 min·Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi·43 sec·New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
25
Turn straight
0.3 mi·35 sec
Use the straight lane.
26
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
27
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
28
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
30
Take the exit
305 ft·10 sec
Toward BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft·7 sec·Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker StreetUse the straight lane.
32
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi·1 min·Broadway
Use the straight lane.
34
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Since this is a 5-hour and 36-minute drive, plan for at least one strategic stop to break up the journey and stay refreshed. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic congestion as you approach the city. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial stretches on the Southern Tier Expressway to ensure you have enough to cover the $42 estimate before hitting the more crowded interstate sections. Because this trip is manageable in one day, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on real-time traffic updates. Use your one planned stop to stretch your legs after the longest 80.1-mile stretch to ensure you remain alert for the final leg of the drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 132.7 miles from Rathbone, NY, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.1 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 58 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.7 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rathbone, 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 Rathbone, NY
This is one driving day of about 265.5 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Rathbone, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 80.1 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.7 and 260.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.7 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13A-B
Toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamt...
7
14.6 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13A
Toward I 86 East, NY 17 East: Corning, Binghamt...
7
95.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
148.5 mi into trip|~3h 4m 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
260.8 mi into trip|~5h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.19 one way
$94.39 round trip
$4.52/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$51.09
$102.19
premium
$5.31
$55.54
$111.07
diesel
$6.20
$64.80
$129.59
Estimated Tolls: $16.14
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
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
$47
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.
EV Charging Along Route
81 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Blink Charging Station
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Blink
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Scranton, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Waverly, New York
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hoboken, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Randolph, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Scranton, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Union City, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Painted Post, New York
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 34
Other: 24
Tesla: 7
Blink: 5
Electrify America: 4
EV Connect: 3
EVgo: 3
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.88
$12.74
Efficient EV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
EV Truck/SUV
106.2
1
$37.17
$16.99
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Rathbone, NY
Morning
in Rathbone on Friday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 15 mph91% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New York City, NY
Morning
in New York City on Friday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers
SE 7 to 13 mph78% 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
8 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
5h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 265.5
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
1 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 265.5
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 265.5
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 265.5
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 265.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a consistent highway-focused experience, as 71% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on major interstates, with the longest uninterrupted stretch occurring on the Southern Tier Expressway for 80.1 miles. The road feels built for steady pacing, trading winding rural scenery for the reliability of multi-lane highways. As you navigate the transition from the quieter regions of the Southern Tier toward the dense infrastructure of the city, the character of the road remains centered on maintaining momentum. Prepare for a functional, no-nonsense driving environment that keeps you moving toward your destination.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.1 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 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 24 significant decision points across 265.5 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 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.2 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,929 ft34 ft
Total Climb
1,153 ft
Total Descent
2,125 ft
Highest Point
1,929 ft
~170.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,895 ft
Notable High Points
1,929 ft at ~170.7 miles+560 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rathbone, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Binghamton, Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
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 — monument in New York
•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
Absolutely doable as a same-day trip! At 265.5 miles and 5h 36m, you can easily make this drive to NYC and back for a quick weekend getaway, especially with only one planned break.
Family Friendly
With a 10/10 complexity and 71% highway driving, navigating this 265.5-mile route to NYC might be a challenge with kids. Plan for entertainment during the 5h 36m drive, as the focus is less on scenic stops and more on getting there.
Solo Traveler
This 265.5-mile drive is a solid choice for a solo trip, offering a straightforward highway experience with minimal stops needed. While mostly highway, the 10/10 complexity might keep you engaged without being overwhelming.
First-Time Driver
This 265.5-mile route is mostly highway (71%) and could be a good starting point for a first-time driver, but the 10/10 complexity means you'll need to be extra vigilant. The 5h 36m drive time is manageable, but be prepared for potentially heavy traffic as you approach NYC.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.1 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.14 in tolls one way, starting with Holland Tunnel. 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 New York City, 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 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.2 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New York City, NY before the return drive.
