Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
1:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Spring Valley, NY
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
54m
Distance
34.5 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Spring Valley, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Spring Valley, NY covers 34.5 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, NJ 4, Harlem River Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 34.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 54m highway drive covering 34.5 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 4. The longest continuous stretch is about 10.7 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 33 decision points packed into just 34.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan...
8
5.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
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 46
Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
8
6.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street,...
9
10 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washingto...
9
12.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
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 Spring Valley, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, Bronx, Randalls Island, Harlem River Drive North, Njtp South: Hackensack and Gsp South - among others.
Manhattan
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 278
Bronx
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 278
Randalls Island
5.6 mi in
|
~12m
Harlem River Drive North
6.6 mi in
|
~14m
Njtp South: Hackensack
12.3 mi in
|
~23m
Gsp South
19.4 mi in
|
~33m
Gsp North
19.4 mi in
|
~33m
Newark
19.4 mi in
|
~33m
Mahwah
19.4 mi in
|
~33m
Gsp Toll North
20.8 mi in
|
~35m
Nanuet
32.4 mi in
|
~49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Harlem River Drive | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Robert F. Kennedy Bridge | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| I 95 EXPR | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Queens Boulevard | 1 mi | 3m |
| NJ 17 | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 10.7 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Spring Valley, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
90 ft
·
7 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 25
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn slight right
216 ft
·
8 sec
4
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Queens Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
6
Merge onto I 278
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto GCP; I 278
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Central Parkway
9
Continue on I 278
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 46
Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46
Toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
12
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
13
Keep slight right at fork
127 ft
·
3 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward Harlem River Drive North
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto HRD
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Harlem River Drive
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 24
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 95; US 1
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
20
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
21
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
Use the straight lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto NJ 17
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
31
Merge onto GSP
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14-1
Toward I 87 South, I 287 East: New York City
33
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Nanuet
Use the slight right lane.
34
Turn left onto CR 35
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Pascack Road
35
Turn right onto CR 35A
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Forman Road
36
Take the ramp onto Forman Road
53 ft
·
7 sec
·
Forman Road
37
Turn left onto NY 59
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
NY 59
38
Turn right onto NY 45
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Turn right onto Lawrence Street
296 ft
·
18 sec
·
Lawrence Street
40
Turn left onto Centre Street
344 ft
·
20 sec
·
Centre Street
41
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.2 mi from Elmhurst, NY · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Elmhurst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Spring Valley, NY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Spring Valley, 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
$5.68 one way
$11.36 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.14 | $12.28 |
| premium | $4.92 | $6.69 | $13.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.62 | $15.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.64
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Garden State Parkway
(10.7 mi)
$0.64
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$17
Total
$22
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Spring Valley, NY
Late night in Spring Valley on Friday
Local time
1:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
15 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
54m 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 Spring Valley, NY covers 34.5 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 4, Harlem River Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.2 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 $5.68 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 33 decision points packed into just 34.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elmhurst, NY and Spring Valley, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, Bronx, Randalls Island, Harlem River Drive North, Njtp South: Hackensack and Gsp South - among others.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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