Origin
Vails Gate, NY
Morning in Vails Gate on Tuesday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vails Gate, NY to Manhattan, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
58.4 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vails Gate, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Vails Gate to Manhattan covers 58 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes. Since you are staying within the Northeast region, this trip is perfectly suited as a convenient one-day excursion. You will navigate primarily via State Route 32, Quaker Avenue, and Route 9W. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this is an affordable journey for a quick getaway. Because the route is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated planning. It is a straightforward trip that connects suburban New York directly to the heart of the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 37.4 mi | 47m |
| United States Route 9W | 11 mi | 15m |
| Henry Hudson Parkway | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| State Route 32 | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| I 95 EXPR | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| George Washington Bridge (upper level) | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Quaker Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 86th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Palisades Interstate Parkway
— 37.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vails Gate, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on NY 94
71 ft
·
6 sec
·
NY 94
2
Turn right onto NY 32
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 32
3
Turn left onto CR 107
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Quaker Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto US 9W
11 mi
·
15 min
·
United States Route 9W
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
7
Merge onto US 6
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
35 mi
·
44 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
10
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
11
Take the exit onto US 9
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 9
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
Use the straight lane.
14
Merge onto HH; NY 9A
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Henry Hudson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on West 79th Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
West 79th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Broadway
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Broadway
18
Turn right onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 86th Street
19
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
86th Street Transverse
Toward East Side
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from Vails Gate, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 15.8 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
51.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
US 9
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th...
7
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
8
52.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downt...
7
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology
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 Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.61 one way
$19.23 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $10.39 | $20.79 |
| premium | $4.92 | $11.32 | $22.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.89 | $25.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$16
Total
$26
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.18 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Manhattan, NY
Morning in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
NE 2 to 7 mph
31% chance
Live forecast
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
1h 22m 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 rather than a monotonous highway experience, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will be navigating local roads for the entire 58-mile duration, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches of open road, with the longest segment on State Route 32 requiring constant engagement. This profile makes for a more technical driving experience compared to a standard interstate commute. Be prepared for frequent turns and a steady pace as you make your way toward the city.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.4 mi on Palisades Interstate Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Palisades Interstate Parkway and United States Route 9W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.8 miles in near Palisades Interstate Parkway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 15.8 miles (Palisades Interstate Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.9 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Vails Gate, NY to Manhattan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
52.4 mi in
|
~1h 11m
About the Cities
Starting in Vails Gate, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Manhattan, NY
Full guide →Founded 1624
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
Top landmarks
- • Empire State Building — skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA
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 22m. Total distance: 58.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.4 miles on Palisades Interstate Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 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.
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 Manhattan, 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 15.8 miles (Palisades Interstate Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.9 miles (US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (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 Manhattan, 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, and NPS for national parks. 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
Continue From Manhattan, NY
More trips to Manhattan, NY
Explore more options from Vails Gate, NY or browse trips ending in Manhattan, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.