Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Morning in Elmhurst on Saturday
Local time
9:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Selden, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
48.7 mi
78 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Selden, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Selden, NY covers 48.7 miles and takes about 1h 10m 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, Middle Country Road, Nesconset Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.5 miles on Long Island Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Arriving in Selden, NY
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 48.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 48.7 miles, with most of the trip on Long Island Expressway and Middle Country Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.5 miles on Long Island Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Island Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 35.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Middle Country Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Queens Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 7 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Queens Boulevard
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, East...
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 495 / Long Island Expressway
Merge onto I 495 / Long Island Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 56
Toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
5
38.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
NY 111 / Hauppauge Boulevard
Turn left onto NY 111 / Hauppauge Boulevard
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 Elmhurst, NY and Selden, NY, road signs point toward Islip, Middle Country Road East, Centereach and Riverhead.
Islip
36.5 mi in
|
~51m
Middle Country Road East
43.1 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Centereach
43.1 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Riverhead
43.1 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 35.5 mi | 49m |
| Middle Country Road | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Nesconset Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Express Drive South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Hauppauge Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 35.5 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Selden, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
42 ft
·
4 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 495
35 mi
·
49 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 56
Toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Express Drive South
7
Continue on Express Drive South
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Express Drive South
8
Turn left onto NY 111
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wheeler Road
9
Continue on NY 111
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Townline Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto NY 111
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hauppauge Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn slight right onto NY 347
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway
12
Continue on NY 347
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Nesconset Highway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Route 25, Middle Country Road EAST, Centereach, Riverhead
14
Turn right onto NY 25
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Middle Country Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Arrive at destination
NY 25
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.3 mi from Elmhurst, NY · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Elmhurst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Selden, NY
The final approach into Selden, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.02 one way
$16.03 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $8.67 | $17.34 |
| premium | $4.92 | $9.44 | $18.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 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 | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Selden, NY
Morning in Selden on Saturday
Local time
9:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 10m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Selden, NY covers 48.7 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Middle Country Road, Nesconset Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.3 miles from Elmhurst, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.02 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 straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Between Elmhurst, NY and Selden, NY, road signs point toward Islip, Middle Country Road East, Centereach and Riverhead.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Federal Hall 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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