University Heights, NY to Staten Island, NY is 33.8 miles and takes about 59 minutes via Tonnelle Avenue and NJ 440, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New York State. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface street driving, making it a straightforward option for a short hop. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a same-day excursion without the need for overnight stays.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tonnelle Avenue
5.1 mi
7m
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
4.7 mi
5m
NJ 440
4.5 mi
6m
Bergen Boulevard
3.2 mi
5m
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
1.4 mi
2m
University Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
Rockland Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
I 95 EXPR
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Tonnelle Avenue
— 5.1 mi, about 7m
Traffic on I-95
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
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 21 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Heights, NY and Staten Island, NY.
1
Start on West 183rd Street
506 ft·28 sec·West 183rd Street
2
Turn right onto University Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·University Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Washington Bridge
0.4 mi·1 min·Washington Bridge
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 95; US 1
0.4 mi·42 sec·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
7
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
8
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.9 mi·1 min·US 1; US 9; US 46
Exit 72BToward US 1 South, US 9 South: Palisades ParkUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on NJ 63
3.2 mi·5 min·Bergen Boulevard
12
Turn straight onto CR 501
0.7 mi·1 min·John F. Kennedy Boulevard
13
Turn right onto 76th Street
0.3 mi·54 sec·76th Street
14
Turn left onto US 1; US 9
5.0 mi·7 min·Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
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
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
18
Continue on NJ 139
0.3 mi·27 sec·12th Street Viaduct
19
Take the exit
236 ft·9 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Jersey Avenue
463 ft·23 sec·Jersey Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139
408 ft·5 sec·14th Street Viaduct
Use the left lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78; NJTP
4.7 mi·5 min·New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
Toward NJTP: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 14AToward NJ 440: BayonneUse the right lane.
24
Continue on Port Jersey Boulevard
0.3 mi·17 sec·Port Jersey Boulevard
Toward NJ 440
25
Take the exit
357 ft·8 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Chosin Few WayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 440 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto NJ 440
4.5 mi·6 min·NJ 440
28
Continue on NY 440
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
29
Take the exit
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 10EToward I 278 East: Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
30
Merge onto I 278
0.8 mi·1 min·Staten Island Expressway
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 11Toward I 278 West: Bradley AvenueUse the slight right lane.
32
Turn straight onto South Gannon Avenue
198 ft·8 sec·South Gannon Avenue
33
Turn right onto Bradley Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Bradley Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Turn slight right onto Brielle Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Brielle Avenue
35
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Rockland Avenue
36
Continue on Richmond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Richmond Road
37
Turn left onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Kensico Street
38
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
284 ft·13 sec·Clarke Avenue
39
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Cotter Avenue
40
Continue on Corona Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Corona Avenue
41
Turn right onto Croft Court
147 ft·6 sec·Croft Court
42
Arrive at destination
Croft Court
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from University Heights, 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 16.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washingto...
9
4.3 mi into trip|~8m in|US 1; US 9; US 46
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9; US 46 toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Palisades Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 72B
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Palisades Park
8
14.6 mi into trip|~25m 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
7
16 mi into trip|~28m in|I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct
Turn left onto I 78; NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
16.1 mi into trip|~28m in|I 78; NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78; NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.99 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg12 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$5.95
$11.89
premium
$4.87
$6.48
$12.95
diesel
$5.40
$7.19
$14.38
Estimated Tolls: $16.65
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New Jersey Turnpike
(4.7 mi)$0.65
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$17
Total
$22
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
$3.55
$1.62
Efficient EV
8.5
0
$2.96
$1.35
EV Truck/SUV
13.5
0
$4.73
$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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
University Heights, NY
Morning
in University Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers
NE 9 mph80% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 26 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Staten Island, NY
Morning
in Staten Island on Sunday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Rain Showers
E 13 mph95% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 26 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
2 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
59m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 41% highway travel, interspersed with surface roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 5.1 miles on Tonnelle Avenue before transitioning to the New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension and NJ 440. Expect a blend of urban merging and more open highway driving as you navigate between these two New York locations.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.1 mi on Tonnelle Avenue.
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 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 29 decision points packed into just 33.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles (US 1; US 9; US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 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 University Heights, NY and Staten Island, NY, road signs point toward Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Hoboken, Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike and Brooklyn.
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
•Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
•Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.1 miles on Tonnelle Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.65 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Staten Island, 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 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles (US 1; US 9; US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Statue Of Liberty National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall 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 Staten Island, NY before heading back.
