Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
30.7 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington Heights, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Staten Island, NY to Washington Heights, NY is 30.7 miles and takes about 53 minutes via Tonnelle Avenue, Bayonne Bridge, and New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, same-day trip that stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New York. Expect a route with frequent turns, typical of navigating urban and suburban areas. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick cross-borough or inter-state journey without requiring overnight stays.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tonnelle Avenue | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Bayonne Bridge | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Bergen Boulevard | 4 mi | 6m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Rockland Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| I 95 EXPR | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Brielle Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Staten Island, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
Start on Croft Court
Turn left onto Corona Avenue
Continue on Cotter Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
Turn right onto Kensico Street
At end of road, turn right onto Richmond Road
Continue on Richmond Road
Continue on Rockland Avenue
Turn right onto Brielle Avenue
Turn left onto Bradley Avenue
Turn left onto North Gannon Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278
Take the exit
Merge onto NY 440
Continue on NY 440
Take the exit
Merge onto Port Jersey Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 78; NJTP
Continue on I 78; NJTP
Turn left onto Jersey Avenue
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Continue on US 1; US 9
Turn right onto 76th Street
Turn left onto CR 501
Continue on CR 501
Turn slight left onto NJ 63; CR 501
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
Take the exit onto US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9
Turn left onto US 9
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Staten Island, 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 5.2 and 30.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward NY 440 North: Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Expressway, Bayonne Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 East, NJTP East: Holland Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 9 toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9 toward West 178th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.05 one way
$10.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $5.46 | $10.93 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.95 | $11.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $32.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$33
Total
$38
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Morning in Staten Island on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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.
This drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy' on local roads, with about 28% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a mix of driving experiences, starting with local streets before transitioning to sections of the New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.1 miles on Tonnelle Avenue. Be prepared for a dynamic drive that requires attention to navigation as you weave through different road types and cityscapes.
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 5.2 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 30 decision points packed into just 30.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles (I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct): Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Staten Island, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward Elizabeth, Njtp: Newark, Jersey City and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
Elizabeth
Njtp: Newark
Jersey City
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
Founded 1683
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 30.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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