Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
49.2 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Medford, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Medford, NY covers 49.2 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Long Island Expressway, Queens Boulevard, Route 112 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.4 miles on Long Island Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 49.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
This is a 1h 9m highway drive covering 49.2 miles, with most of the trip on Long Island Expressway and Queens Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 47.4 miles on Long Island Expressway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Queens Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Queens Boulevard.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Queens Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles (I 495 / Long Island Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 495 / Long Island Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 112: Port Jefferson, Patchogue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Long Island Avenue
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 47.4 mi | 1h 5m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Route 112 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Express Drive South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Long Island Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Medford, NY.
Start on Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
Turn right onto NY 112
Turn right onto Long Island Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.6 mi from Elmhurst, NY · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Elmhurst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Medford, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.10 one way
$16.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $8.76 | $17.51 |
| premium | $4.92 | $9.54 | $19.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Late night in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Medford on Friday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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