Origin
Thornwood, NY
Afternoon in Thornwood on Sunday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornwood, NY to Brooklyn, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
40.5 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornwood, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Brooklyn, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Thornwood to Brooklyn covers 40.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it functions perfectly as a simple day excursion that requires no overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel for the entire journey. As you move from the northern suburbs into the heart of the city, the landscape shifts significantly from residential Westchester County to the dense urban environment of the five boroughs. Given the duration and distance, this route is straightforward enough to complete without any planned stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Saw Mill River Parkway | 17.3 mi | 23m |
| Major Deegan Expressway | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| Washington Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Robert F. Kennedy Bridge | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Mosholu Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Saw Mill River Parkway
— 17.3 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornwood, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
1
Start on Kensico Road
139 ft
·
7 sec
·
Kensico Road
2
Continue on Kensico Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Kensico Road
3
Continue on Marble Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Marble Avenue
4
Turn left
246 ft
·
8 sec
5
At end of road, turn left onto Saw Mill River Parkway
17 mi
·
23 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on HH
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Henry Hudson Parkway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto MP
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mosholu Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 87 South: Deegan Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 87
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Major Deegan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 278 West: RFK Bridge, Manhattan, Queens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 278
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 278; GCP
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Central Parkway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Toward I 278 West: Staten Island
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 31
Toward Wythe Avenue, Kent Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto Williamsburg Street West
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
Williamsburg Street West
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Flushing Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Flushing Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Empire Boulevard
413 ft
·
18 sec
·
Empire Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Flatbush Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Flatbush Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn left onto NY 27
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Caton Avenue
22
Continue on NY 27
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nostrand Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Nostrand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Thornwood, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 18.9 and 35.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 87 South: Deegan Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
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.
Toward I 87 South: Deegan Expressway, Robert F....
8
25.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 278 West: RFK Bridge, Manhattan, Queens
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: RFK Bridge, Manhattan, Queen...
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, Staten Island
7
35.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 West: Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Staten Island
8
35.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward Wythe Avenue, Kent Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 31
Toward Wythe Avenue, Kent Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.67 one way
$13.33 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.21 | $14.42 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.85 | $15.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Brooklyn, NY
Afternoon in Brooklyn on Sunday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
4 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 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way south toward the city. Since the route consists of 0% highway driving, you will be navigating local roads for the entire 40.6-mile duration. The pace is steady rather than fast, requiring your full attention as you transition through various neighborhoods. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the personality of this drive is defined by constant navigation and frequent adjustments. Prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to a typical interstate commute.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.3 mi on Saw Mill River Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Saw Mill River Parkway and Major Deegan Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.4 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
366 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
371 ft
Total Descent
589 ft
Highest Point
366 ft
~5.8 mi in
Elevation Range
355 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Thornwood, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
Manhattan
25.9 mi in
|
~37m
Queens
25.9 mi in
|
~37m
Staten Island
29.4 mi in
|
~44m
|
via I 278
About the Cities
Starting in Thornwood, 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 1h 6m. Total distance: 40.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.3 miles on Saw Mill River Parkway. 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 Brooklyn, 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 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.4 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, African Burial Ground National Monument and General Grant National Memorial (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 Brooklyn, NY before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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