Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
20.2 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Astoria, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Seaside, NY
Peter Olexa
Astoria, NY to Seaside, NY is 20.2 miles and takes about 39m via Grand Central Parkway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that combines expressway travel with more local road segments. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a quick getaway or an easy connection between these two areas.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 58% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced expressway driving, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 6.6 miles on Grand Central Parkway. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift from the broader parkways to more direct routes like Cross Bay Boulevard. This variation means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate loop, but rather experience different driving environments within a short distance.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near GCP / Grand Central Parkway.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 20.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (GCP / Grand Central Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto GCP / Grand Central Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Cross Bay Boulevard South, Rockaways
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto Rockaway Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Astoria, NY and Seaside, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Belt Parkway West, Cross Bay Boulevard South and Rockaways.
Kennedy Airport
Belt Parkway West
Cross Bay Boulevard South
Rockaways
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Central Parkway | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Cross Bay Boulevard | 5.1 mi | 13m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Belt Parkway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Astoria Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Cross Bay Bridge | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Rockaway Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Beach Channel Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Astoria, NY and Seaside, NY.
Start on 12th Street
Turn right onto Astoria Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278; GCP
Keep slight left at fork onto GCP
Take the exit
Merge onto I 678
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto BP
Take the exit
Turn right onto Cross Bay Boulevard
Continue on Cross Bay Bridge
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Beach Channel Drive
Turn left onto Seaside Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Rockaway Freeway
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$3.33 one way
$6.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.60 | $7.19 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.92 | $7.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.46 | $8.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$7
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Astoria on Friday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Seaside on Friday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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