Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seaford, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Washington Heights, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Seaford, NY to Washington Heights, NY is 34.8 miles and takes about 49m via Southern State Parkway and Cross Bronx Expressway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward commute. You'll want to plan for potential traffic, especially as you approach your destination. Given the short duration, it's an ideal option for a quick trip or an extension of another journey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 13.2 mi | 17m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6 mi | 7m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hempstead Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| 212th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 11 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,766 veh/hr typical · worst 2,167
Quietest
2 AM
~199 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Seaford, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
Start on Merrick Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto NY 135
Take the exit
Merge onto SO
Take the exit
Merge onto CI
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto NY 24
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
Turn right onto NY 24
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto Washington Bridge
Continue on West 181st Street
Turn right onto Wadsworth Avenue
Turn left onto West 182nd Street
Turn left onto US 9
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Seaford, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward SO West: New York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Amsterdam Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.66 one way
$11.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $6.12 | $12.24 |
| premium | $4.87 | $6.67 | $13.33 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $7.40 | $14.81 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$7
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Seaford on Sunday
Local time
5:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Late night in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Rain Showers
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
With 82% of this route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on the Southern State Parkway, Cross Bronx Expressway, and Clearview Expressway. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 13.2 miles on the Southern State Parkway. As you transition off the parkways, expect more frequent exits and potential urban merging. The majority of the drive features highway conditions, making for a consistent pace until you near the city.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Cross Bronx Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 21 decision points packed into just 34.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Seaford, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward So West: New York, Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West and Grandstand.
So West: New York
Cross Island Parkway North
Hempstead Avenue West
Grandstand
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 34.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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