What is the weather like driving from Boston to New York in winter?

In a nor'easter it can be rain on the coast and sleet, ice or snow inland, and the line between them often sits over Connecticut. Check the forecast for each stretch at the hour you will be on it; this page shows alerts from both NWS offices on the route.

Should I take I-95 or I-84 in snow?

It depends on where the rain–snow line sits for that storm: the coast is usually warmer, inland is usually colder. Compare both in the planner for your departure time, and check CTroads before leaving.

I-90 / I-84 · MA / CT / NY

Boston to New York drive weather

Boston, MA to New York, NY · 215 miles, about 3 h 50 min by the planner's route

Also covers the drive back from New York to Boston.

The fastest drive from Boston to New York the planner finds goes west on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) to Sturbridge, then southwest through inland Connecticut on I-84 and on toward New York, instead of along the coast on I-95. Nor'easters bring a sharp rain–snow line that often sits over Connecticut, and the inland route is on the colder side of it.

Plan this drive with your own departure time

Conditions at Fri, 3:00 AM EST

Highest risk along I-90 / I-84: 3 of 5 (moderate), departing at that time.

No active NWS alerts on this route.

The road authority linked below has the final word on closures and chain requirements.

Right now: MODERATE riskdeparting Fri, 4:00 AM EST from Boston, MA

30 min of moderate risk, worst between New Canaan, CT and Yonkers, NY (rain)

Time in weather: 30 min moderate · 3 h 20 min clear

Conditions: Light rain, Light rain showers, Cloudy and more

Plan this drive with your own departure timeChecked Fri, 3:00 AM EST. Updates hourly.

Checkpoints along I-90 / I-84

Where	You pass	Weather	Risk	Why
Boston, MA	Fri 4:00 AM	67°Fpavement 67°F	low	Light rain
Cordaville, MA	Fri 4:30 AM	65°Fpavement 65°F	low	Likely light rain
Sturbridge, MA	Fri 5:00 AM	64°Fpavement 64°F	low	Sources differ: NWS says Light Rain Likely at 64°F
Rockville, CT	Fri 5:30 AM	64°Fpavement 66°F	low	Sources differ: NWS says Light Rain at 64°F
Middletown, CT	Fri 6:00 AM	64°F	low	Nothing flagged
Orange, CT	Fri 6:30 AM	64°F	low	Likely light rain
New Canaan, CT	Fri 7:00 AM	63°F	moderate	Likely steady rain — reduced traction
Yonkers, NY	Fri 7:30 AM	64°F	low	Likely light rain
New York, NY	Fri 7:49 AM	65°F	moderate	Steady rain — reduced traction

Weather to know about on this drive

The rain–snow line matters more than totals: a few miles inland or north can mean sleet and ice instead of rain.
Connecticut and Massachusetts impose travel bans and truck bans in major nor'easters (Jan 2015, Feb 2013).
Two NWS offices cover the drive: Boston/Norton for Massachusetts and northern Connecticut, New York for central and southern Connecticut and New York City.

Official sources for every state on the route

Mountain passes and corridors on this drive

I-95 from New York to Boston

Questions about driving from Boston to New York

What is the weather like driving from Boston to New York in winter?: In a nor'easter it can be rain on the coast and sleet, ice or snow inland, and the line between them often sits over Connecticut. Check the forecast for each stretch at the hour you will be on it; this page shows alerts from both NWS offices on the route.
Should I take I-95 or I-84 in snow?: It depends on where the rain–snow line sits for that storm: the coast is usually warmer, inland is usually colder. Compare both in the planner for your departure time, and check CTroads before leaving.

Conditions change by the hour. This page is a planning aid built on public forecasts and DOT feeds; the road authorities linked above have the final word on closures and chain requirements.

Traveling for the holiday? Read Thanksgiving travel weather · all holiday drives · winter road conditions by corridor