Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
The Bronx, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The Bronx, NY to Chelsea, NY is 33.7 miles and takes about 51 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New York. It's a primarily highway-focused drive, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct and efficient journey. Given its short duration, it's an ideal same-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur | 16.2 mi | 22m |
| I 95 EXPR | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 2 mi | 2m |
| Goethals Bridge | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Shore Expressway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Trans-Manhattan Expressway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| George Washington Bridge (upper level) | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 21 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between The Bronx, NY and Chelsea, NY.
Start on Cruger Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Bronxdale Avenue
Turn right onto Hunt Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Rhinelander Avenue
Continue on Unionport Road
Turn right onto Morris Park Avenue
Turn right onto East Tremont Avenue
Turn left onto East 177th Street
Turn right onto Sheridan Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Merge onto I 278
Continue on I 278
Take the exit
Merge onto NY 440
Take the exit
Turn left onto Chelsea Road
Turn right onto South Avenue
Turn left onto Meredith Avenue
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 33.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from The Bronx, 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 9.3 and 32.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur toward I 95 South: Turnpike South, Exit 16W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 440 South: West Shore Expressway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward South Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.48 one way
$10.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $5.93 | $11.86 |
| premium | $4.87 | $6.46 | $12.91 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $7.17 | $14.34 |
Estimated Tolls: $34.57
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$35
Total
$40
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 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 | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
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 The Bronx on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
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.
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 79% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.2 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur. This means you'll experience mostly high-speed driving on major thoroughfares, with minimal exposure to slower, local roads. The route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing getting you to your destination quickly and directly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur and I 95 EXPR. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 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 27 decision points packed into just 33.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles (I 95; NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between The Bronx, NY and Chelsea, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Newark, Exit 16W and Staten Island.
Upper Level
Njtp South: Newark
Exit 16W
Staten Island
“The Boogie Down” · Founded 1898
The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York. Known for Yankee Stadium, the home field of the New York Yankees baseball team, it has been a borough of New York City since 1898. The vast Bronx Zoo houses hundreds of species of animals. Nearby, the sprawling New York Botanical Garden features a landmark greenhouse with rainforest and cactus displays. By the Hudson River, Wave Hill is a landscaped public garden with wooded paths and a cultural center.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 33.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from The Bronx, NY or browse trips ending in Chelsea, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
