How far is Colonie, NY from Manhattan, NY?

The driving distance from Colonie, NY to Manhattan, NY is about 156.2 miles (251.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 133.8 miles (215.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
156.19 mi
02h 33m
Flight
133.83 mi
215.38 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Colonie.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
133.83 mi
Kilometers
215.38 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
156.19 mi
Kilometers
251.37 km
Drive Time
02h 33m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Manhattan
Thu, Oct 15, 11:06 PM EDT
Return by in Colonie
Fri, Oct 16, 1:39 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colonie
2026-10-15T20:33
Arrive Manhattan
Thu, Oct 15, 11:06 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:33 AM to 12:33 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:24 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Colonie
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
New Paltz
NY

Town in New York

From Colonie
75.6 mi
01h 16m
To Manhattan
80.6 mi
01h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NE
Destination
63°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 3:00 PM EDT
Wind
8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Colonie and Manhattan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colonie and Manhattan.

  1. 1

    Start on Central Avenue

    2604 ft · 60 sec · Central Avenue

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 87 South

    1839 ft · 1 min

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Adirondack Northway

    2537 ft · 39 sec · Adirondack Northway

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo

    1694 ft · 32 sec

  5. 5

    Continue on I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo

    2619 ft · 51 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 87 South: New York

    117.8 mi · 2 hr 17 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey

    1.5 km · 60 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    2496 ft · 39 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah

    14.1 mi · 19 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York

    566 ft · 19 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York

    2455 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    1417 ft · 24 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    6.4 mi · 9 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge

    1124 ft · 18 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.2 km · 55 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    1.3 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

    2392 ft · 45 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street

    571 ft · 14 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway

    1740 ft · 42 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown

    1911 ft · 47 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Henry Hudson Parkway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right 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

    995 ft · 27 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on West 79th Street

    1273 ft · 52 sec · West 79th Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Broadway

    1957 ft · 57 sec · Broadway

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West 86th Street

    2245 ft · 1 min · West 86th Street

  26. 26

    Continue on 86th Street Transverse

    1066 ft · 36 sec · 86th Street Transverse

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 86th Street Transverse

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Colonie and Manhattan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
27 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 South
119 mi · 76%
NJ 17 South
14.1 mi · 9%
NJ 4 East
7.12 mi · 5%
Henry Hudson Parkway
4.24 mi · 3%
I 95 North
1.75 mi · 1%
I 287 South
1.39 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 87 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 87 South: New York

118 mi · 02h 17m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.4 mi
133.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Paltz
01h 16m from Colonie
Leave By
1:24 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Colonie and Sunny near Manhattan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Colonie to Manhattan?

The road trip is about 156.2 miles (251.4 km) and usually takes 02h 33m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

New Paltz is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.6 miles from Colonie and 80.6 miles from Manhattan.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 133.8 miles (215.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:24 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.51 one way or $49.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Colonie and Sunny near Manhattan.

Stop Ideas Near New Paltz

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around New Paltz, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to New Paltz.

RAIL

Poughkeepsie station

13 mi away
41 Main St.
RAIL

Rhinecliff–Kingston station

22 mi away
Hutton and Charles Sts.
RAIL

Hudson

61 mi away
69 South Front St.
RAIL

Croton–Harmon station

64 mi away
1 Croton Point Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Colonie and Manhattan. Straight-line distance: 133.83 mi (215.38 km).

Colonie

#1 Colonie

Town in Albany County, New York, United States

Population7,564
Coordinates42.7178600, -73.8334600
Altitude95
CountryUnited States
Manhattan

#2 Manhattan

The most densely populated borough of New York City.

Population1,644,518
Coordinates40.7834300, -73.9662500
Altitude35
CountryUnited States
Start: Central Avenue (-73.83328, 42.717972)
End: 86th Street Transverse Road (-73.965969, 40.783967)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 251 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.51 gal
20.86 L · about $24.51
Round trip
$49.02
11.02 gal · 41.72 L
Estimated CO2
49 kg one way
Round trip: 97.9 kg / 216 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.45 $24.51 $49.02
Mid-grade $4.98 $27.45 $54.90
Premium $5.38 $29.65 $59.31
Diesel $6.51 $35.86 $71.73

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New York · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Colonie and Manhattan. The current time is 20:33:46.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.