How far is Watertown, NY from Manhattan, NY?
The driving distance from Watertown, NY to Manhattan, NY is about 325.7 miles (524.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 241.8 miles (389.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 05h 24m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Located in the county of New York
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Watertown and Manhattan.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown and Manhattan.
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1
Start on Public Square
1004 ft · 34 sec · Public Square
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2
Continue on State Street
1.7 mi · 4 min · State Street
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3
Turn right onto Gifford Street
2.4 mi · 3 min · Gifford Street
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4
Continue on Van Allen Road
8.4 mi · 10 min · Van Allen Road
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5
Continue on State Highway 12
1.4 mi · 2 min · State Highway 12
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6
Continue on Main Street
3048 ft · 41 sec · Main Street
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7
Continue on High Street
2991 ft · 39 sec · High Street
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8
Continue on County Road 14
1772 ft · 23 sec · County Road 14
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9
Continue on State Highway 12
10.9 mi · 13 min · State Highway 12
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10
Continue on Dayan Street
2636 ft · 1 min · Dayan Street
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11
Turn right onto South State Street
3100 ft · 2 min · South State Street
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12
Continue on Utica Boulevard
2768 ft · 1 min · Utica Boulevard
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13
Continue on Bea Luck Road
19.8 mi · 23 min · Bea Luck Road
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14
Continue on State Highway 12
1.2 km · 52 sec · State Highway 12
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15
Continue on Erwin Parkway
9.7 mi · 11 min · Erwin Parkway
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16
Continue on State Highway 12
22 mi · 31 min · State Highway 12
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17
Take the exit slight right
1572 ft · 38 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto State Route 49
2039 ft · 27 sec · State Route 49
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19
Continue straight
998 ft · 13 sec
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Genesee Street South
840 ft · 18 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 90
1.2 km · 2 min
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22
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East
1766 ft · 43 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
83.7 mi · 1 hr 37 min · New York State Thruway
-
24
Keep slight right to continue on New York State Thruway
118.2 mi · 2 hr 16 min · New York State Thruway
-
25
Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
1.5 km · 60 sec
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26
Continue straight
2496 ft · 39 sec
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27
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah
14.1 mi · 19 min
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28
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
566 ft · 19 sec
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29
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
2455 ft · 1 min
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30
Merge slight left
1417 ft · 24 sec
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31
Continue straight
6.4 mi · 9 min
-
32
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
1124 ft · 18 sec
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33
Merge slight left
1.2 km · 55 sec
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34
Keep slight left
1.3 km · 1 min
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35
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
2392 ft · 45 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
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36
Take the exit slight right toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
571 ft · 14 sec
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37
Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway
1740 ft · 42 sec
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38
Keep slight left to continue on NY 9A South: Henry Hudson Parkway, Downtown
1911 ft · 47 sec
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39
Merge slight left onto Henry Hudson Parkway
4.2 mi · 6 min · Henry Hudson Parkway
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40
Take the exit slight right toward Boat Basin, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, JCC in Manhattan, Lincoln Center, New York Historical Society, New York Institute of Technology
995 ft · 25 sec
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41
Continue on West 79th Street
1273 ft · 52 sec · West 79th Street
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42
Turn left onto Broadway
1957 ft · 57 sec · Broadway
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43
Turn right onto West 86th Street
2245 ft · 1 min · West 86th Street
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44
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
1066 ft · 36 sec · 86th Street Transverse
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45
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 86th Street Transverse
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Watertown and Manhattan.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
New York State Thruway
Keep slight right to continue on New York State Thruway
118 mi · 02h 16m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Watertown and Partly Sunny near Manhattan.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Watertown to Manhattan?
The road trip is about 325.7 miles (524.2 km) and usually takes 05h 24m 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?
Rotterdam is a useful midpoint, sitting about 157.5 miles from Watertown and 168.2 miles from Manhattan.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 241.8 miles (389.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 83.9 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 6:10 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.61 one way or $103.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Watertown and Partly Sunny near Manhattan.
Stop Ideas Near Rotterdam
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall Lot
Albany City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rotterdam.
Schenectady
Albany–Rensselaer
Amsterdam station
Saratoga Springs station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Watertown and Manhattan. Straight-line distance: 241.79 mi (389.12 km).
#1 Watertown
Town in Jefferson County, New York
| Population | 4,426 |
| Coordinates | 43.9747800, -75.9107600 |
| Altitude | 142 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Manhattan
The most densely populated borough of New York City.
| Population | 1,644,518 |
| Coordinates | 40.7834300, -73.9662500 |
| Altitude | 35 |
| Country | United States |
End: 86th Street Transverse Road (-73.965969, 40.783967)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 524 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.49 | $51.61 | $103.23 |
| Mid-grade | $5.01 | $57.55 | $115.11 |
| Premium | $5.41 | $62.17 | $124.34 |
| Diesel | $6.50 | $74.73 | $149.46 |
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 · Sep 23, 2026