How far is Howard Beach, NY from Washington Heights, NY?
The driving distance from Howard Beach, NY to Washington Heights, NY is about 20.9 miles (33.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 14.2 miles (22.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 00h 42m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
A hamlet in the Town of Mount Pleasant, New York.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Howard Beach and Washington Heights.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Howard Beach and Washington Heights.
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1
Start on 160th Avenue
49 m · 12 sec · 160th Avenue
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2
Turn left onto 97th Street
1863 ft · 2 min · 97th Street
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3
Turn left onto 157th Avenue
1050 ft · 42 sec · 157th Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Cross Bay Boulevard
785 ft · 29 sec · Cross Bay Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp right toward Belt Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
580 ft · 11 sec
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Belt Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
1054 ft · 21 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Belt Parkway
1309 ft · 23 sec · Belt Parkway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
1688 ft · 32 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Van Wyck Expressway
1258 ft · 24 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Nassau Expressway
1.1 mi · 2 min · Nassau Expressway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, Van Wyck Expressway
1897 ft · 1 min
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12
Merge slight left onto Van Wyck Expressway
952 ft · 15 sec · Van Wyck Expressway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Rockaway Boulevard
20 m · 2 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Rockaway Boulevard
2019 ft · 41 sec
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15
Keep slight left
1062 ft · 26 sec
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16
Continue on Van Wyck Expressway
7.1 mi · 9 min · Van Wyck Expressway
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17
Merge slight left onto Whitestone Expressway
2 mi · 3 min · Whitestone Expressway
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18
Continue on Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
1.3 mi · 2 min · Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
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19
Continue on Hutchinson River Expressway
1.3 km · 1 min · Hutchinson River Expressway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, I 278 West, I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New Haven Connecticut
1157 ft · 28 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan
1505 ft · 50 sec
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22
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South
1819 ft · 44 sec
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23
Merge slight left
4.2 mi · 5 min
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24
Take the exit slight right toward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan Expressway
699 ft · 20 sec
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Amsterdam Avenue
1014 ft · 29 sec
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26
Turn straight onto Washington Bridge
2123 ft · 1 min · Washington Bridge
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27
Continue on West 181st Street
1290 ft · 44 sec · West 181st Street
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28
Turn right onto Wadsworth Avenue
72 m · 14 sec · Wadsworth Avenue
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29
Turn left onto West 182nd Street
84 m · 24 sec · West 182nd Street
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30
Turn left onto Broadway
70 m · 4 sec · Broadway
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Broadway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Howard Beach and Washington Heights.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Van Wyck Expressway
Continue on Van Wyck Expressway
7.09 mi · 00h 09m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving Howard Beach and Mostly Cloudy near Washington Heights.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Howard Beach to Washington Heights?
The road trip is about 20.9 miles (33.7 km) and usually takes 00h 42m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Richmond Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.7 miles from Howard Beach and 10.3 miles from Washington Heights.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 14.2 miles (22.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:06 PM EST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.18 one way or $6.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Howard Beach and Mostly Cloudy near Washington Heights.
Stop Ideas Near Richmond Hill
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Radio City Music Hall
The Yard: City Hall Park NYC
CITY HALL LOBBY
Diamond City Hall Photography
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Richmond Hill.
Pennsylvania Station
New Rochelle station
Yonkers station
Pennsylvania Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Howard Beach and Washington Heights. Straight-line distance: 14.26 mi (22.95 km).
#1 Howard Beach
Howard Beach is a place in New York, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.6578800, -73.8362500 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Washington Heights
Located in the northern portion of the New York County borough of Manhattan, this residential neighborhood is situated on a high ridge between the Hudson and Harlem rivers.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.8501000, -73.9354100 |
| Altitude | 54 |
| Country | United States |
End: West 181st Street (-73.935446, 40.850053)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 34 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.29 | $3.18 | $6.35 |
| Mid-grade | $4.86 | $3.59 | $7.19 |
| Premium | $5.25 | $3.89 | $7.77 |
| Diesel | $6.46 | $4.78 | $9.56 |
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 · Nov 07, 2026