How far is Kensington, NY from Manhattan, NY?

The driving distance from Kensington, NY to Manhattan, NY is about 12.2 miles (19.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 9.5 miles (15.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.2 mi
00h 36m
Flight
9.48 mi
15.26 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kensington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
9.48 mi
Kilometers
15.26 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.2 mi
Kilometers
19.63 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Manhattan
Sat, Apr 11, 1:54 PM EDT
Return by in Kensington
Sat, Apr 11, 2:30 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kensington
2026-04-11T13:17
Arrive Manhattan
Sat, Apr 11, 1:54 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Kensington
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
New York City
NY

The most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York metropolitan area.

From Kensington
6.1 mi
00h 18m
To Manhattan
6.1 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW
Destination
63°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Albemarle Road

    9 m · 3 sec · Albemarle Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Coney Island Avenue

    25 m · 11 sec · Coney Island Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Church Avenue

    1102 ft · 25 sec · Church Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Prospect Expressway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Prospect Expressway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 278 East: Queens, Bronx

    1896 ft · 46 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Gowanus Expressway

    2317 ft · 40 sec · Gowanus Expressway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan

    2.3 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge

    70 m · 11 sec

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Street

    2.4 mi · 7 min · West Street

  10. 10

    Continue on 11th Avenue

    2072 ft · 1 min · 11th Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on 12th Avenue

    1.8 mi · 5 min · 12th Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on West Side Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Side Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Henry Hudson Parkway

    794 ft · 14 sec · Henry Hudson Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward West 79 Street

    906 ft · 28 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West 79th Street

    875 ft · 36 sec · West 79th Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Broadway

    1957 ft · 57 sec · Broadway

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West 86th Street

    2245 ft · 1 min · West 86th Street

  18. 18

    Continue on 86th Street Transverse

    1066 ft · 36 sec · 86th Street Transverse

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 86th Street Transverse

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
155.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Street
2.43 mi · 20%
Hugh L Carey Tunnel
2.33 mi · 19%
Prospect Expressway
1.85 mi · 15%
12th Avenue
1.83 mi · 15%
West Side Highway
0.8 mi · 7%
Gowanus Expressway
0.44 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

West Street

At the end of the road, turn right onto West Street

2.43 mi · 00h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.7 mi
9.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New York City
00h 18m from Kensington
Leave By
7:16 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Kensington and Sunny near Manhattan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 12.2 miles (19.6 km) and usually takes 00h 36m 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?

New York City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.1 miles from Kensington and 6.1 miles from Manhattan.

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

The direct path is about 9.5 miles (15.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.7 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.72 one way or $3.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near New York City

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around New York City and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 1.6 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Jersey City , NJ
280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Parking lot
The Yard: City Hall Park NYC
Practical stop 0.7 mi away

The Yard: City Hall Park NYC

New York , NY
116 Nassau St, New York, NY 10038
Rating 4.8/5 45 reviews Office space rental agency,Business to business service,Conference center,Coworking space,Event venue,Executive suite rental agency,Virtual office rental
City Hall Personnel Office
Meeting point 8.5 mi away

City Hall Personnel Office

Newark , NJ
920 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
Rating 5.0/5 5 reviews City government office
Diamond City Hall Photography
Nearby stop 0.6 mi away

Diamond City Hall Photography

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 53 reviews Wedding photographer

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to New York City.

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

4 mi away
8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

14 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

16 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Yonkers station

26 mi away
5 Buena Vista Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kensington and Manhattan. Straight-line distance: 9.48 mi (15.26 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Kensington

Village in New York, United States

Population1,182
Coordinates40.6462100, -73.9706900
Altitude14
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: Albemarle Road (-73.970681, 40.646165)
End: 86th Street Transverse Road (-73.965969, 40.783967)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.43 gal
1.63 L · about $1.72
Round trip
$3.45
0.86 gal · 3.26 L
Estimated CO2
3.8 kg one way
Round trip: 7.6 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $1.72 $3.45
Mid-grade $4.48 $1.93 $3.85
Premium $4.86 $2.09 $4.18
Diesel $4.69 $2.02 $4.04

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 · Apr 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Kensington and Manhattan. The current time is 13:17:34.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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