Byron, NY to Jamaica, NY is 352.6 miles and takes about 7h 27m via I 81, Keystone Shortway, and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, traversing New York state for its entirety. Expect a day filled with varied driving, from faster highway segments to more winding local roads. Given the single-day recommendation, it's a manageable drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
176.3 miles from Byron, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Jamaica is an expansive neighborhood located in eastern Queens. Historically consisting of predominantly black communities, Jamaica now is home to an extremely diverse array of peoples and cultures.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 27m. Total distance: 352.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route offers a dynamic driving experience, with only 46% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll navigate numerous intersections and changes in direction. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 98.8 miles on I 81, providing a good opportunity for steady progress. Be prepared for the road character to shift as you move between the major highways and the more intricate local routes.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 61 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 98.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 67 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 43 significant decision points across 352.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 67 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.3 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 331.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 43 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
67 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
217.3 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
331.9 mi into trip|~6h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
332.2 mi into trip|~6h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
9
351.2 mi into trip|~7h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Byron, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
Clyde
67 mi in|~1h 21m
Mt Pocono
217.3 mi in|~4h 37m|via US 6
Milford
218.1 mi in|~4h 38m|via I 84; I 380
New York City
331.9 mi in|~6h 53m
Leonia
332.2 mi in|~6h 54m
Teaneck
332.2 mi in|~6h 54m
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
334.4 mi in|~6h 58m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
New York State Thruway
57.9 mi
1h 6m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Byron, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on NY 262
141 ft·11 sec·Townline Road
2
Turn left onto NY 237
3.2 mi·5 min·Byron Holley Road
3
Turn left onto Griswold Road
4.9 mi·6 min·Griswold Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto NY 19
0.2 mi·21 sec·Lake Street Road
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 90, I 490 West: Buffalo, New York State Thruway
6
Merge onto I 490
0.1 mi·7 sec·Western Expressway
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Albany
8
Merge onto I 90
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·New York State Thruway
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
11
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
12
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
14
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
16
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
17
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
18
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
19
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
20
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
21
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
22
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
23
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
24
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
25
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
26
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
28
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
33
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
34
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
38
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
40
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
41
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
42
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
43
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
45
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
47
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
49
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
52
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
53
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
54
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi·6 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy AirportUse the slight left lane.
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
56
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
57
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
58
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
59
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Inwood Street
60
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft·2 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
61
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Trip Plan
Starting early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and comfortably complete this 7h 27m drive. With 2 planned stops, you can pace yourself effectively, perhaps stopping around the halfway point or after the longest stretch on I 81. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition off the major interstates onto local roads, where services might be less frequent. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your stops based on your energy levels and traffic conditions.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.3 miles from Byron, NY, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 78 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.3 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamaica, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Byron, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Byron, NY
This is one driving day of about 352.6 miles and 7h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Byron, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 176.3 mi from Byron, NY
· 3h 49m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 357.6
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 357.6
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 76.6
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 370.3
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 357.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.8
1
$37.02
$16.92
Efficient EV
88.2
1
$30.85
$14.10
EV Truck/SUV
141
1
$49.36
$22.57
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Byron, NY
Night
in Byron on Friday
Local time
10:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Night
in Jamaica on Friday
Local time
10:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Byron, NY to Jamaica, NY covers 352.6 miles and takes about 7h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Keystone Shortway, New York State Thruway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 176.3 miles from Byron, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.04 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 43 significant decision points across 352.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 67 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.3 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 331.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Byron, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, General Grant National Memorial and Hamilton Grange National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
