Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Morning in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Kirkland, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
248.3 mi
400 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 53m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Kirkland, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Kirkland, NY covers 248.3 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Queens Boulevard, I 278 East, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.1 miles from Elmhurst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 248.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 6m drive with frequent turns across 248.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 49 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Queens Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 6m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elmhurst, NY to Kirkland, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Queens Boulevard | — | — |
| I 278 East | — | — |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | — | — |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West | — | — |
| Grand Central Parkway | — | — |
| Robert F | — | — |
| Manhattan | — | — |
| Harlem River Drive North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Queens Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Kirkland, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
89 ft
·
7 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
3
Turn slight right
217 ft
·
8 sec
4
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Queens Boulevard
5
Take the ramp straight toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
6
Merge slight left onto Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
8
Merge slight left onto Grand Central Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Central Parkway
9
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
10
Take the exit slight right toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Manhattan, Randalls Island
11
Keep slight left to continue on Manhattan, Randalls Island
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Manhattan, Randalls Island
12
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
13
Keep slight right to continue on Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
128 ft
·
4 sec
·
Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
14
Keep slight right to continue on Harlem River Drive North
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Harlem River Drive North
15
Merge slight right onto Harlem River Drive
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Harlem River Drive
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
19
Merge slight left onto Trans-Manhattan Expressway
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
20
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
21
Continue straight
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
22
Keep slight left
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
23
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
24
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
25
Keep slight right to continue on NJ 4 West: Paramus
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4 West: Paramus
26
Merge slight right
6.7 mi
·
9 min
27
Take the exit straight toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
28
Keep slight right to continue on NJ 17 North: Mahwah
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 17 North: Mahwah
29
Merge slight left
3.3 mi
·
4 min
30
Continue straight
7.3 mi
·
9 min
31
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
32
Continue straight
3.3 mi
·
4 min
33
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
34
Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
118 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
35
Keep slight left to continue on New York State Thruway
85 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
New York State Thruway
36
Take the exit slight right toward I 790, NY 8, NY 12: Utica
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 790, NY 8, NY 12: Utica
37
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
38
Keep slight right
157 ft
·
4 sec
39
Turn slight right onto North Genesee Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Genesee Street
40
Continue on Genesee Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Genesee Street
41
Turn right onto Court Street
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Court Street
42
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
43
Take the ramp straight
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
44
Merge slight left onto North-South Arterial Highway
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North-South Arterial Highway
45
Continue on North-South Arterial Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North-South Arterial Highway
46
Turn left onto Clinton Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Clinton Road
47
Turn right onto Limberlost Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Limberlost Road
48
At the end of the road, turn left onto Seneca Turnpike
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Seneca Turnpike
49
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 124.1 miles from Elmhurst, NY, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
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 55 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.1 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kirkland, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elmhurst, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elmhurst, NY
This is one driving day of about 248.3 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Elmhurst, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.1 mi from Elmhurst, NY · 2h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 124.1 miles from Elmhurst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kirkland, NY
The final approach into Kirkland, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kirkland, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.87 one way
$81.74 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $44.20 | $88.39 |
| premium | $4.92 | $48.13 | $96.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.82 | $109.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
$0.00
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
$41
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.5 | 0 | $26.07 | $11.92 |
| Efficient EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.73 | $9.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.3 | 1 | $34.76 | $15.89 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Kirkland, NY
Morning in Kirkland on Friday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
124 mi in
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
19 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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Kirkland, NY covers 248.3 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Queens Boulevard, I 278 East, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.1 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 $40.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 6m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elmhurst, NY to Kirkland, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elmhurst, NY to Kirkland, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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