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Trip from Stamford, NY to Brooklyn, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 40m

Distance

161.1 mi

259 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 28m ★
6 AM
3h 40m
8 AM
4h 5m
10 AM
3h 49m
12 PM
3h 47m
3 PM
3h 50m
5 PM
4h 4m
8 PM
3h 33m

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

Downtown Stamford, NY, NY

Stamford, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Brooklyn, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Stamford to Brooklyn is 161.1 miles and takes about 3h 40m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from a more rural setting in the Northeast region to the urban landscape of Brooklyn. With a mixed highway and surface road profile, expect some variation in your driving experience. It's a manageable one-day trip, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward drive between these two points.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

80.6 miles from Stamford, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New York State Thruway 70.5 mi 1h 21m
NJ 17 22.7 mi 29m
State Route 23A 17.4 mi 26m
State Highway 23 13.4 mi 19m
King's Highway 5.8 mi 7m
State Highway 23A 5.2 mi 8m
NJ 3 4.2 mi 4m
Main Street 4 mi 8m
Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 70.5 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, NY and Brooklyn, NY.

1

Start on South Delaware Street

55 ft · 4 sec · South Delaware Street
2

Turn right onto NY 23

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
3

Continue on NY 23

2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 23
4

Continue on NY 23

11 mi · 16 min · State Highway 23
5

Continue on NY 23A

14 mi · 20 min · State Route 23A
6

Continue on NY 23A

2.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street
7

Continue on NY 23A

2.4 mi · 3 min · State Route 23A
8

Continue on NY 23A

1.6 mi · 4 min · Main Street
9

Continue on NY 23A

5.2 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23A
10

Continue on NY 23A

1.0 mi · 2 min · State Route 23A
11

Turn slight right onto NY 32A

0.4 mi · 44 sec · State Route 32A
12

Continue on NY 32A

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 32A
13

Continue on NY 32

5.8 mi · 7 min · King's Highway
14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
15

Merge onto I 87

71 mi · 1 hr 21 min · New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

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.
17

Continue on I 287; NJ 17

0.5 mi · 39 sec · I 287; NJ 17
18

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17

23 mi · 29 min · NJ 17
Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah Use the slight left / straight lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
20

Merge onto NJ 3

4.2 mi · 4 min · NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Continue on US 1; US 9

2.5 mi · 3 min · Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

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
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel Use the left lane.
24

Merge onto NJ 139

0.7 mi · 1 min · Conrail Viaduct
25

Continue on NJ 139

0.4 mi · 32 sec · 12th Street Viaduct
26

Continue on I 78

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

1.9 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
28

Take the exit

428 ft · 14 sec
Toward NY 9A
29

Turn slight left onto Laight Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
30

At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Street
Use the straight lane.
31

Take the exit

2.6 mi · 5 min
Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn Use the left lane.
32

Continue on I 278

0.6 mi · 50 sec · Gowanus Expressway
33

Take the exit onto NY 27

1.5 mi · 2 min · NY 27
Exit 24 Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway Use the slight left / straight lanes.
34

Take the exit onto NY 27

0.4 mi · 47 sec · NY 27
Exit 5 Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center Use the slight right lane.
35

Turn left onto NY 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
36

Continue on NY 27

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
37

Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Nostrand Avenue
38

Arrive at destination

Nostrand Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 3h 40m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to allow for flexibility. Since this is a single-day drive with only one recommended stop, you have plenty of room to adjust your schedule. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially before leaving the New York State Thruway, as services can be less frequent on the surface road portions later in the drive. The total fuel cost is estimated at $27, so budget accordingly.

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 80.6 miles from Stamford, NY, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 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 35 miles or 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.6 miles or 1h 52m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Stamford, 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 Stamford, NY

This is one driving day of about 161.1 miles and 3h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Stamford, 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 New York State Thruway for about 70.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Orange County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New Windsor, NY

81 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.

Popular next leg

New Windsor, NY to Brooklyn, NY

71.7 mi · 1h 46m

Pacing Suggestions

Woodstock, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Windsor, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.6 miles from Stamford, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.5 miles.

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 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 118.5 and 157.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
118.5 mi into trip | ~2h 36m 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
119.9 mi into trip | ~2h 37m 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
149.8 mi into trip | ~3h 15m 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
8
154.5 mi into trip | ~3h 27m in

Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Exit 2 Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
7
157.6 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in | NY 27

Take the exit onto NY 27 toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 24 Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.52 one way

$53.04 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $28.67 $57.35
premium $4.92 $31.22 $62.45
diesel $5.61 $35.57 $71.14

Estimated Tolls: $19.53

Holland Tunnel $16.00
New York State Thruway (70.5 mi) $3.53

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

$27

Tolls

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.3 0 $16.92 $7.73
Efficient EV 40.3 0 $14.10 $6.44
EV Truck/SUV 64.4 0 $22.55 $10.31

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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 20, 2026

Origin

Stamford, NY

Morning in Stamford on Tuesday

Local time

6:20 AM

EDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brooklyn, NY

Morning in Brooklyn on Tuesday

Local time

6:20 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live 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

15 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

3h 40m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is 43% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on the New York State Thruway measuring 70.5 miles. You'll transition from the Thruway to NJ 17 and then State Route 23A, indicating a shift from high-speed driving to surface roads. Expect to encounter more varied traffic and potentially more frequent stops as you move off the main highway.

43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.5 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 118.5 miles in near NY 17.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 19 significant decision points across 161.1 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 118.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Stamford, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken and Manhattan.

Jersey City

149.7 mi in | ~3h 15m | via US 1; US 9

Pulaski Skyway

149.7 mi in | ~3h 15m | via US 1; US 9

Hoboken

149.8 mi in | ~3h 15m

Manhattan

151.4 mi in | ~3h 19m | via I 78

About the Cities

Starting in Stamford, NY

Full guide →

Arriving in Brooklyn, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1634

Brooklyn, the "Borough of Homes and Churches," is one of the five boroughs of New York City. It used to be a separate city, and still feels much like one. It has about 2.5 million inhabitants. If separated from the rest of New York City, Brooklyn would be the 4th most populous American city. Brooklyn is on the westernmost point of Long Island and shares a land boundary with Queens, which partially encircles Brooklyn to the north, east and south; Manhattan lies across the East River to the west and north of Brooklyn, and Staten Island is across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the southwest. Brooklyn is enjoying a period of growth and affluence not seen since before World War II. The Brooklyn Academy of Music boasts world-class theater performances, and the nearby Barclays Center is the home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.

Top landmarks

  • Brooklyn Bridge — bridge in New York City, crossing the East River
  • Brooklyn Museum — art museum in Brooklyn, New York

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 3h 40m. Total distance: 161.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.5 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $19.53 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 Brooklyn, 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 118.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Brooklyn, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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