How far is Washington Heights, NY from Clifton, NY?
The driving distance from Washington Heights, NY to Clifton, NY is about 22.6 miles (36.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 17.5 miles (28.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 29m 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 44m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Washington Heights and Clifton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington Heights and Clifton.
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1
Start on Broadway
1175 ft · 54 sec · Broadway
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2
Turn right onto West 177th Street
1150 ft · 43 sec · West 177th Street
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3
Take the ramp straight toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverside Drive
1249 ft · 30 sec
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4
Turn slight right onto NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown, Riverside Drive
1876 ft · 46 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway
4.7 mi · 7 min · Henry Hudson Parkway
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6
Continue on West Side Highway
1.4 km · 2 min · West Side Highway
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7
Continue on 12th Avenue
1.8 mi · 5 min · 12th Avenue
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8
Continue on 11th Avenue
2078 ft · 1 min · 11th Avenue
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9
Continue on West Street
2.3 mi · 7 min · West Street
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10
Take the exit slight left toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
2.6 mi · 5 min
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11
Continue on Gowanus Expressway
2.5 mi · 4 min · Gowanus Expressway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
1005 ft · 17 sec · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
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13
Continue on Gowanus Expressway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Gowanus Expressway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Gowanus Expressway
3210 ft · 49 sec · Gowanus Expressway
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15
Continue on Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
1.4 mi · 2 min · Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
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16
Continue on Staten Island Expressway
3139 ft · 59 sec · Staten Island Expressway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward Hylan Boulevard
1678 ft · 42 sec
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18
Turn straight onto Narrows Road North
107 m · 9 sec · Narrows Road North
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19
Continue on Narrows Road North
53 m · 9 sec · Narrows Road North
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20
Turn right onto Hylan Boulevard
2465 ft · 55 sec · Hylan Boulevard
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21
Turn left onto Tompkins Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · Tompkins Avenue
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22
Turn left onto Vanderbilt Avenue
13 m · 2 sec · Vanderbilt Avenue
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Vanderbilt Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Washington Heights and Clifton.
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.
Henry Hudson Parkway
Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway
4.69 mi · 00h 07m
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.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Washington Heights and Mostly Cloudy near Clifton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Washington Heights to Clifton?
The road trip is about 22.6 miles (36.4 km) and usually takes 00h 44m 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 11.3 miles from Washington Heights and 11.3 miles from Clifton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 17.5 miles (28.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.1 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 7:00 PM EST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.43 one way or $6.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Washington Heights and Mostly Cloudy near Clifton.
Stop Ideas Near New York City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall Parking Lot
The Yard: City Hall Park NYC
City Hall Personnel Office
Diamond City Hall Photography
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to New York City.
Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station
Newark Liberty International Airport
Yonkers station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Washington Heights and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 17.54 mi (28.22 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Clifton
Clifton is a place in New York, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.6201000, -74.0770900 |
| Altitude | 16 |
| Country | United States |
End: Clifton (-74.07709, 40.6201)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 36 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.29 | $3.43 | $6.87 |
| Mid-grade | $4.86 | $3.88 | $7.77 |
| Premium | $5.25 | $4.20 | $8.40 |
| Diesel | $6.46 | $5.17 | $10.33 |
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