Best Time to Drive from Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn

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 12-mile drive from Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn (via FDR Drive South and I-278 West) usually takes as little as 31 minutes and up to 80 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 54 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4:30 pm on Saturdays (70 minutes).

Freeway, about 6 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 6 miles: 24 to 62 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 Downtown Brooklyn (Joralemon 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 Downtown Brooklyn 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	31	37	42	48	56	55	48	47	46	49	52	68	69	60	49	47	48
Tue	32	38	41	49	52	56	53	53	51	47	53	70	76	72	64	62	55
Wed	32	35	43	49	56	58	56	54	54	51	62	79	79	76	67	59	53
Thu	32	37	41	47	55	64	66	59	55	55	62	73	79	79	71	65	57
Fri	31	36	38	43	47	50	58	62	59	54	61	71	72	69	64	66	59
Sat	47	35	37	42	41	45	43	45	48	52	54	67	68	68	65	63	60
Sun	35	33	35	37	40	39	43	44	46	47	51	62	65	58	56	55	53

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 Downtown Brooklyn?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am. The drive usually takes about 31 minutes then, versus up to 80 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn?

The 12-mile drive usually takes 31 to 80 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 54 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn?

Leaving around 5:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 80 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Harlem to Lower Manhattan · Harlem to Bay Ridge · 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	31	37	42	48	56	55	48	47	46	49	52	68	69	60	49	47	48
Tue	32	38	41	49	52	56	53	53	51	47	53	70	76	72	64	62	55
Wed	32	35	43	49	56	58	56	54	54	51	62	79	79	76	67	59	53
Thu	32	37	41	47	55	64	66	59	55	55	62	73	79	79	71	65	57
Fri	31	36	38	43	47	50	58	62	59	54	61	71	72	69	64	66	59
Sat	47	35	37	42	41	45	43	45	48	52	54	67	68	68	65	63	60
Sun	35	33	35	37	40	39	43	44	46	47	51	62	65	58	56	55	53

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	31	37	42	48	56	55	48	47	46	49	52	68	69	60	49	47	48
Tue	32	38	41	49	52	56	53	53	51	47	53	70	76	72	64	62	55
Wed	32	35	43	49	56	58	56	54	54	51	62	79	79	76	67	59	53
Thu	32	37	41	47	55	64	66	59	55	55	62	73	79	79	71	65	57
Fri	31	36	38	43	47	50	58	62	59	54	61	71	72	69	64	66	59
Sat	47	35	37	42	41	45	43	45	48	52	54	67	68	68	65	63	60
Sun	35	33	35	37	40	39	43	44	46	47	51	62	65	58	56	55	53

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	31	37	42	48	56	55	48	47	46	49	52	68	69	60	49	47	48
Tue	32	38	41	49	52	56	53	53	51	47	53	70	76	72	64	62	55
Wed	32	35	43	49	56	58	56	54	54	51	62	79	79	76	67	59	53
Thu	32	37	41	47	55	64	66	59	55	55	62	73	79	79	71	65	57
Fri	31	36	38	43	47	50	58	62	59	54	61	71	72	69	64	66	59
Sat	47	35	37	42	41	45	43	45	48	52	54	67	68	68	65	63	60
Sun	35	33	35	37	40	39	43	44	46	47	51	62	65	58	56	55	53