Best Time to Drive from Harlem to Bay Ridge

None of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 18-mile drive from Harlem to Bay Ridge (via FDR Drive South and I-278 West and I-478 East) usually takes as little as 43 minutes and up to 97 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 70 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 5:30 pm on Saturdays (82 minutes).

Freeway, about 10 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 8 miles: 30 to 65 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from central Harlem (Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard) to central Bay Ridge (82nd Street) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Harlem to Bay Ridge by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	52	63	70	73	71	67	63	63	65	71	89	87	72	63	60	60
Tue	43	56	66	72	72	78	77	69	66	64	70	87	91	83	76	72	70
Wed	43	54	65	70	76	77	77	71	70	69	78	97	94	86	77	69	70
Thu	43	56	64	68	73	78	81	73	70	71	76	91	97	89	78	73	69
Fri	49	52	63	66	61	62	73	72	71	70	78	88	86	80	72	73	67
Sat	54	43	44	50	49	55	60	58	67	69	72	81	82	81	79	76	74
Sun	46	42	43	45	48	48	53	54	63	64	70	76	80	72	72	69	66

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Harlem to Bay Ridge?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am. The drive usually takes about 43 minutes then, versus up to 97 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Harlem to Bay Ridge?

The 18-mile drive usually takes 43 to 97 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 70 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Harlem to Bay Ridge?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 97 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Harlem to Lower Manhattan · Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn · Harlem to Staten Island

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	52	63	70	73	71	67	63	63	65	71	89	87	72	63	60	60
Tue	43	56	66	72	72	78	77	69	66	64	70	87	91	83	76	72	70
Wed	43	54	65	70	76	77	77	71	70	69	78	97	94	86	77	69	70
Thu	43	56	64	68	73	78	81	73	70	71	76	91	97	89	78	73	69
Fri	49	52	63	66	61	62	73	72	71	70	78	88	86	80	72	73	67
Sat	54	43	44	50	49	55	60	58	67	69	72	81	82	81	79	76	74
Sun	46	42	43	45	48	48	53	54	63	64	70	76	80	72	72	69	66

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	52	63	70	73	71	67	63	63	65	71	89	87	72	63	60	60
Tue	43	56	66	72	72	78	77	69	66	64	70	87	91	83	76	72	70
Wed	43	54	65	70	76	77	77	71	70	69	78	97	94	86	77	69	70
Thu	43	56	64	68	73	78	81	73	70	71	76	91	97	89	78	73	69
Fri	49	52	63	66	61	62	73	72	71	70	78	88	86	80	72	73	67
Sat	54	43	44	50	49	55	60	58	67	69	72	81	82	81	79	76	74
Sun	46	42	43	45	48	48	53	54	63	64	70	76	80	72	72	69	66

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	52	63	70	73	71	67	63	63	65	71	89	87	72	63	60	60
Tue	43	56	66	72	72	78	77	69	66	64	70	87	91	83	76	72	70
Wed	43	54	65	70	76	77	77	71	70	69	78	97	94	86	77	69	70
Thu	43	56	64	68	73	78	81	73	70	71	76	91	97	89	78	73	69
Fri	49	52	63	66	61	62	73	72	71	70	78	88	86	80	72	73	67
Sat	54	43	44	50	49	55	60	58	67	69	72	81	82	81	79	76	74
Sun	46	42	43	45	48	48	53	54	63	64	70	76	80	72	72	69	66