Best Time to Drive from Washington Heights to 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 18-mile drive from Washington Heights to Brooklyn (via NY-9A South and I-478 East) usually takes as little as 31 minutes and up to 94 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 74 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 6:30 pm on Saturdays (85 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Brooklyn to Washington Heights

Freeway, about 11 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 7 miles: 20 to 51 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 Washington Heights to central Brooklyn 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 Washington Heights to 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	32	42	57	67	69	73	70	68	72	73	72	87	92	87	69	59	38
Tue	31	54	62	70	72	72	77	75	75	72	77	86	91	90	80	65	78
Wed	31	47	62	67	71	73	74	72	75	77	77	88	92	90	76	74	78
Thu	32	54	59	69	71	73	78	80	77	78	82	92	94	90	80	75	72
Fri	46	52	55	64	68	68	73	76	72	74	84	88	86	78	71	75	70
Sat	35	33	41	43	42	53	66	77	76	78	74	79	78	83	84	76	73
Sun	31	30	30	32	41	41	54	63	63	67	72	81	84	74	69	75	70

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 Washington Heights to Brooklyn?

On weekdays, leave early in the morning or late in the evening. The drive usually takes about 31 minutes then, versus up to 94 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 18-mile drive usually takes 31 to 94 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 74 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Washington Heights to Brooklyn?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 94 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Brooklyn to Washington Heights (return trip) · Washington Heights to Queens

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	32	42	57	67	69	73	70	68	72	73	72	87	92	87	69	59	38
Tue	31	54	62	70	72	72	77	75	75	72	77	86	91	90	80	65	78
Wed	31	47	62	67	71	73	74	72	75	77	77	88	92	90	76	74	78
Thu	32	54	59	69	71	73	78	80	77	78	82	92	94	90	80	75	72
Fri	46	52	55	64	68	68	73	76	72	74	84	88	86	78	71	75	70
Sat	35	33	41	43	42	53	66	77	76	78	74	79	78	83	84	76	73
Sun	31	30	30	32	41	41	54	63	63	67	72	81	84	74	69	75	70

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	32	42	57	67	69	73	70	68	72	73	72	87	92	87	69	59	38
Tue	31	54	62	70	72	72	77	75	75	72	77	86	91	90	80	65	78
Wed	31	47	62	67	71	73	74	72	75	77	77	88	92	90	76	74	78
Thu	32	54	59	69	71	73	78	80	77	78	82	92	94	90	80	75	72
Fri	46	52	55	64	68	68	73	76	72	74	84	88	86	78	71	75	70
Sat	35	33	41	43	42	53	66	77	76	78	74	79	78	83	84	76	73
Sun	31	30	30	32	41	41	54	63	63	67	72	81	84	74	69	75	70

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	32	42	57	67	69	73	70	68	72	73	72	87	92	87	69	59	38
Tue	31	54	62	70	72	72	77	75	75	72	77	86	91	90	80	65	78
Wed	31	47	62	67	71	73	74	72	75	77	77	88	92	90	76	74	78
Thu	32	54	59	69	71	73	78	80	77	78	82	92	94	90	80	75	72
Fri	46	52	55	64	68	68	73	76	72	74	84	88	86	78	71	75	70
Sat	35	33	41	43	42	53	66	77	76	78	74	79	78	83	84	76	73
Sun	31	30	30	32	41	41	54	63	63	67	72	81	84	74	69	75	70