Traveling from Ridge to Manhattan covers approximately 69.5 miles, a distance that typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of roughly $11, it remains a cost-effective way to transition from the eastern portion of Long Island into the heart of New York City. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region, you will stay within a familiar geographic context throughout your journey. Whether you are heading in for a quick meeting or a day of exploration, this route offers a straightforward path between these two points in New York.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.7 miles from Ridge, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
49.4 mi
1h 7m
Middle Country Road
7 mi
11m
Patchogue-Mount Sinai Road
2.4 mi
3m
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level
0.9 mi
2m
North Ocean Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Queensboro Plaza
0.7 mi
<1m
Madison Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
3rd Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 49.4 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridge, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on NY 25
7.0 mi·11 min·Middle Country Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto CR 83
2.4 mi·3 min·Patchogue-Mount Sinai Road
3
Continue on CR 83
0.7 mi·1 min·North Ocean Avenue
4
Turn right onto Express Drive North
0.1 mi·11 sec·Express Drive North
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
6
Merge onto I 495
49 mi·1 hr 7 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 16Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard
80 ft·2 sec·Laurel Hill Boulevard
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
To ensure the smoothest travel experience, plan your departure carefully to account for the high volume of local traffic you will inevitably encounter. Since the trip takes 1 hour and 30 minutes under normal conditions, keep in mind that congestion can easily extend your travel time. You won't need to schedule formal stops given the relatively short duration, which provides you with the flexibility to head straight to your final destination. Before setting out, double-check your fuel levels, as the $11 estimated cost is based on standard consumption and does not account for idling in heavy city traffic. A solid tip for this specific route is to stay patient with the frequent turns, as the local road infrastructure is the primary way to reach your destination.
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 32.7 miles from Ridge, NY, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.4 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 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.7 miles or 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 1h 17m
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 Ridge, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ridge, NY
This is one driving day of about 65.3 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Ridge, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 49.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 59.9 and 63.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
59.9 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue
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 16
Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point...
6
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|Hunters Point Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
63.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|NY 25
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25 toward 60th Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 60th Street West
6
63.3 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|3rd Avenue
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
63.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|East 72nd Street
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.75 one way
$21.50 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$11.62
$23.25
premium
$4.92
$12.66
$25.31
diesel
$5.61
$14.42
$28.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.6
0
$6.86
$3.13
Efficient EV
16.3
0
$5.71
$2.61
EV Truck/SUV
26.1
0
$9.14
$4.18
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Ridge, NY
Morning
in Ridge on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Morning
in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
NE 2 to 7 mph31% 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
12 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 37m 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.
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 65.3
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...
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...
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 63.1
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 63.1
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 63.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features no designated highway sections. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a significant amount of maneuvering through local roads and intersections. The journey lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, requiring you to stay alert as you navigate the changing landscape. You will feel the transition from the more open areas of Ridge into the increasingly dense traffic patterns as you approach Manhattan. This drive demands your full attention, as the winding nature of the local roads makes for a more technical experience behind the wheel.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.4 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Middle Country Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 59.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.3 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 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.4 miles (Hunters Point Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.1 miles (NY 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 37m. Total distance: 65.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.4 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.4 miles (Hunters Point Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.1 miles (NY 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange 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 Manhattan, NY before heading back.
