Origin
Cedarhurst, NY
Evening in Cedarhurst on Wednesday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedarhurst, NY to New York City, NY
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
41m
Distance
21.9 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedarhurst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Cedarhurst to New York City, you are looking at a manageable 21.9-mile journey that typically takes about 41 minutes. This short transit across the Northeast is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel budget of just $3, it is an incredibly economical way to reach the heart of the city. You will navigate a mix of local roads and major expressways, making it a straightforward connection between Long Island and NYC. Since both locations are within the Northeast, you will experience a familiar, urban-focused driving environment throughout the entire trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
10.9 miles from Cedarhurst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between dense local arteries and high-traffic expressways. With a 56% highway share, you will spend a significant portion of your time on the Van Wyck Expressway and the Long Island Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 5-mile segment on the Van Wyck, which serves as the primary backbone of your transit. Beyond these highway sections, the route utilizes Rockaway Boulevard to navigate the transition between Cedarhurst and the city. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that requires your full attention as you shift from suburban roads into the busier metropolitan flow.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Van Wyck Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
37 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
29 ft
Total Descent
19 ft
Highest Point
37 ft
~8.2 mi in
Elevation Range
29 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 11.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
11.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12B
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
7
15.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
7
16.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
9
18.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Williamsburg Bridge
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
7
21.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Lafayette Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedarhurst, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Bronx and Manhattan.
Bronx
5.2 mi in
|
~11m
Manhattan
18.5 mi in
|
~31m
|
via Williamsburg Bridge
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Van Wyck Expressway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Long Island Expressway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Rockaway Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 6m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Williamsburg Bridge | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Nassau Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Rockaway Turnpike | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Delancey Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Van Wyck Expressway
— 5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedarhurst, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on Cedarhurst Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedarhurst Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Broadway
3
Turn right onto Rockaway Turnpike
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Rockaway Turnpike
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on Rockaway Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn straight onto NY 878
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
9
Continue on I 678
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 12B
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 495
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
18
Continue on Delancey Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on Kenmare Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Kenmare Street
20
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Howard Street
510 ft
·
24 sec
·
Howard Street
22
Turn left onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
23
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Because this drive is only 21.9 miles, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule, though traffic patterns in this region can be unpredictable. Aim to depart outside of typical rush hours to ensure you maintain that 41-minute travel time. Since there are no planned stops on this route, make sure your fuel tank is ready before you leave Cedarhurst; your $3 budget is plenty for this short distance. A specific tip for this drive is to monitor live traffic reports for the Van Wyck Expressway before you pull out of your driveway, as this segment is prone to sudden congestion. Keep your route fluid, as the proximity of your destination means minor detours are easy to manage if you run into delays.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.9 miles from Cedarhurst, NY, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5 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 21.9 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.9 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Cedarhurst, NY.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedarhurst, NY
This is one driving day of about 21.9 miles and 41m.
At 21.9 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Van Wyck Expressway for about 5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.9 mi from Cedarhurst, NY · 19m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.9 miles from Cedarhurst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New York City, NY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into New York City, NY if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.60 one way
$7.21 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.90 | $7.80 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.24 | $8.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.84 | $9.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.06
Rockaway Turnpike
(0.8 mi)
$0.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
New York City, NY
Evening in New York City on Wednesday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 7 to 14 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 7:26PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:25PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
41m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cedarhurst, NY to New York City, NY covers 21.9 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Van Wyck Expressway, Long Island Expressway, Rockaway Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.9 miles from Cedarhurst, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cedarhurst, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Bronx and Manhattan.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 8 ft to 37 ft elevation with about 29 ft of total climbing.
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