Annie_V

We are planning to visit New York City this summer (the two of us and the kids aged 10 and 13) from the Toronto area (still in the trip report reading stage of my fodors research - additional information seeking posts probably soon to follow!).
We aren't planning to drive IN New York City, but we are planning on driving TO New York City.
Google Maps says 8 1/2 hrs; Mapquest says 9 1/2 hrs

Have you done it in real life, and how long did it take?

Will probably break it up into two so that we can arrive before lunch on our first day - any suggestions for a mid-way stopping point?

thanks

tchoiniere

Cooperstown, NY would certainly work to see the baseball HOF.

Rachel

Much of the drive time will be determined by the wait time at whatever international crossing you take-can be minutes to hours. On a good day I can get from Buffalo to NYC in 7 hours. and I can get from bufflo to Toronto in 1.5 hours (if there's little or no wait at the border) so I would say 8.5 hours is the absolute minimum and 9.5 is more likely. Cooperstown is a GREAT stop but it is out of the way and will add time to your trip.

tomfuller

A great stop for the kids closer to the direct route. The Corning Museum of Glass. http://www.cmog.org/
There is a railroad museum near Scranton, PA.

sandi

My brother does this trip regularly and he has it down to just short of 8.5/hrs from just north of Toronto to NYC. Last trip, left NYC 10:30am and arrived at home about 5:45pm... rather quick that one. Other times, he departs at night with a stop once over the border about 3/hrs into overall trip, continuing next morning. However, as mentioned above... the border crossing can be a hold-up, often dependent on time of day.

nytraveler

8 1/2 hours won;t do it - esp if you run into traffic getting across the border. I would give yourself 10 hours actual time on the road - plus pit and meal stops. That assume a normal (no more than 20 or 30 minutes border crossing. If you hit a holiday or another problem - the crossing can take and hour or even more.

Also - don;t know where you are figuring in NYC. From when you cross into the Bronx it can easily take 45 minutes to midtown Manhattan - more to drop off luggage at hotel, circle and then drop the car at a garage (unless you pick one of the relatively few hotels with parking).

Annie_V

Thanks very much
What we are thinking of doing is building in an overnight a couple of hours out of New York City and then finishing off the drive the next morning so that we can get in before noon, without the stress of a full day drive!. We should be ok on the border (cross on a non-holiday Saturday), but as you say... you never know! Aiming for Scranton might be good - the corning museum looks like it is open until 8pm, so would be a good thing to see on the way.