How far is Washington Heights, NY from Cortland, NY?

The driving distance from Washington Heights, NY to Cortland, NY is about 218 miles (350.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167.5 miles (269.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
217.96 mi
04h 23m
Flight
167.44 mi
269.47 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Washington Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
167.44 mi
Kilometers
269.47 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
217.96 mi
Kilometers
350.78 km
Drive Time
04h 23m

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 04h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cortland
Fri, Oct 16, 12:14 AM EDT
Return by in Washington Heights
Fri, Oct 16, 4:37 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Washington Heights
2026-10-15T19:51
Arrive Cortland
Fri, Oct 16, 12:14 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:14 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Washington Heights
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Tusten
NY

Human settlement in Sullivan County, New York, United States of America

From Washington Heights
108.8 mi
02h 11m
To Cortland
109.2 mi
02h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 3:00 PM EDT
Wind
6 mph SE
Destination
59°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 1:00 PM EDT
Wind
3 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Washington Heights and Cortland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Washington Heights and Cortland.

  1. 1

    Start on Broadway

    585 ft · 26 sec · Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 179th Street

    533 ft · 20 sec · West 179th Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey

    1542 ft · 40 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto George Washington Bridge (upper level)

    2310 ft · 44 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    2659 ft · 48 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    3214 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    559 ft · 9 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

    1270 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

    1884 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    2 mi · 3 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

    1.3 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

    68.2 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

    11.9 mi · 16 min · Keystone Shortway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 380 North: Scranton

    1.1 km · 46 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    27.7 mi · 31 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight right

    58.1 mi · 1 hr 9 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse

    37.4 mi · 44 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward NY 13: Cortland

    789 ft · 24 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Clinton Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Clinton Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Main Street

    6 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Washington Heights and Cortland.

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
23 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 380 North
86.4 mi · 40%
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi · 31%
I 81 North
39.3 mi · 18%
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi · 8%
New Jersey Turnpike
2 mi · 1%
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
1.66 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Christopher Columbus Highway

Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

68.2 mi · 01h 21m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 23m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.5 mi
167.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tusten
02h 11m from Washington Heights
Leave By
8:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Washington Heights and Mostly Sunny near Cortland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Washington Heights to Cortland?

The road trip is about 218 miles (350.8 km) and usually takes 04h 23m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Tusten is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.8 miles from Washington Heights and 109.2 miles from Cortland.

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

The direct path is about 167.5 miles (269.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:14 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.21 one way or $68.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Washington Heights and Mostly Sunny near Cortland.

Stop Ideas Near Tusten

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Tusten, 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 Tusten.

BUS

Scranton, PA

57 mi away
23 Lackawanna Avenue
BUS

White Haven, PA

78 mi away
I-476, Exit 95/I-80, Exit 277, at Hwy 940
BUS

Wilkes-Barre, PA

80 mi away
47 South Washington Street
RAIL

Poughkeepsie station

91 mi away
41 Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Washington Heights and Cortland. Straight-line distance: 167.44 mi (269.47 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Washington Heights

Washington Heights is a place in New York, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.8501000, -73.9354100
Altitude54
CountryUnited States
Cortland

#2 Cortland

City in New York, USA

Population18,455
Coordinates42.6011800, -76.1804800
Altitude344
CountryUnited States
Start: Washington Heights (-73.93541, 40.8501)
End: Cortland (-76.18048, 42.60118)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 351 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.69 gal
29.11 L · about $34.21
Round trip
$68.41
15.38 gal · 58.22 L
Estimated CO2
68.3 kg one way
Round trip: 136.7 kg / 301 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.45 $34.21 $68.41
Mid-grade $4.98 $38.31 $76.62
Premium $5.38 $41.39 $82.78
Diesel $6.51 $50.05 $100.11

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 Washington Heights and Cortland. The current time is 19:51:19.

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.