How far is Manhattan, NY from Chinatown, NY?

The driving distance from Manhattan, NY to Chinatown, NY is about 7.2 miles (11.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 4.9 miles (7.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST.
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
7.21 mi
00h 18m
Flight
4.88 mi
7.86 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Manhattan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
4.88 mi
Kilometers
7.86 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
7.21 mi
Kilometers
11.6 km
Drive Time
00h 18m

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 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chinatown
Sat, Nov 7, 5:21 PM EST
Return by in Manhattan
Sat, Nov 7, 5:40 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Manhattan
2026-11-07T17:03
Arrive Chinatown
Sat, Nov 7, 5:21 PM EST
Route Timing
00h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:19 AM to 7:19 PM EST

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

Leave by
7:52 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Manhattan
10:00 PM EST
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 Manhattan
3.6 mi
00h 09m
To Chinatown
3.6 mi
00h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
7 to 16 mph W
Destination
Chinatown Weather
NY
Live fallback forecast
64°F
Saturday
Using Manhattan as the closest live forecast in the New York County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
7 to 16 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 86th Street Transverse

    1972 ft · 1 min · 86th Street Transverse

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue

    1349 ft · 1 min · 5th Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East 79th Street

    1 mi · 3 min · East 79th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward FDR Drive South

    122 m · 11 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto FDR Drive

    4.2 mi · 8 min · FDR Drive

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Street, Williamsburg Bridge

    936 ft · 29 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Grand Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · Grand Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Chrystie Street

    142 m · 20 sec · Chrystie Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Hester Street

    89 m · 17 sec · Hester Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Bowery

    125 m · 20 sec · Bowery

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Canal Street

    25 m · 3 sec · Canal Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Canal Street

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
166.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
FDR Drive
4.16 mi · 58%
Grand Street
1.1 mi · 15%
East 79th Street
1.01 mi · 14%
86th Street Transverse
0.37 mi · 5%
5th Avenue
0.26 mi · 4%
Chrystie Street
0.09 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

FDR Drive

Merge slight left onto FDR Drive

4.16 mi · 00h 08m

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 18m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.3 mi
4.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New York City
00h 09m from Manhattan
Leave By
7:52 PM EST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Manhattan and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Chinatown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 7.2 miles (11.6 km) and usually takes 00h 18m 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 3.6 miles from Manhattan and 3.6 miles from Chinatown.

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

The direct path is about 4.9 miles (7.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.3 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 7:52 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.07 one way or $2.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Manhattan and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Chinatown.

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 4.3 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 3.1 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 10.7 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 2.7 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 Manhattan and Chinatown. Straight-line distance: 4.88 mi (7.86 km).

Manhattan

#1 Manhattan

The most densely populated borough of New York City.

Population1,644,518
Coordinates40.7834300, -73.9662500
Altitude35
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Chinatown

Chinatown is a place in New York, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.7164900, -73.9962500
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Manhattan (-73.96625, 40.78343)
End: Chinatown (-73.99625, 40.71649)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 12 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.25 gal
0.96 L · about $1.07
Round trip
$2.15
0.5 gal · 1.92 L
Estimated CO2
2.2 kg one way
Round trip: 4.4 kg / 10 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.29 $1.07 $2.15
Mid-grade $4.86 $1.21 $2.43
Premium $5.25 $1.31 $2.63
Diesel $6.46 $1.61 $3.23

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

There is no time difference between Manhattan and Chinatown. The current time is 17:03:00.

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.