Origin
Gravesend, NY
Morning in Gravesend on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gravesend, NY to University Heights, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
23.1 mi
37 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gravesend, NY
Wikimedia Commons
University Heights, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Gravesend, NY to University Heights, NY is 23.1 miles and takes about 45m via Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Major Deegan Expressway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on major highways, making it a relatively quick transit between these urban areas. Given its short distance and duration, this route is best suited for a single-day journey, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 23.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This 23.1-mile drive features a highway share of 49%, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced expressway travel and more localized roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.4 miles on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift from the initial expressway segments to the Major Deegan Expressway, offering a varied driving experience. The overall profile is a mixed drive, so be prepared for changes in speed and road conditions.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.4 miles.
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 5 miles in near Washington Avenue.
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 18 decision points packed into just 23.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (Washington Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (Flushing Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Classon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
Washington Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
Flushing Avenue
Turn right onto Flushing Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
7.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Classon Avenue
Turn left onto Classon Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
13.7 mi into trip
|
~27m 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...
7
22.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward West 179th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward West 179th Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gravesend, NY and University Heights, NY, road signs point toward La Guardia Airport, Manhattan and Bronx.
La Guardia Airport
8.1 mi in
|
~18m
Manhattan
13.7 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 278
Bronx
13.7 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 278
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Major Deegan Expressway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Coney Island Avenue | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Washington Avenue | 2.6 mi | 6m |
| Robert F. Kennedy Bridge | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Parkside Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
— 5.4 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gravesend, NY and University Heights, NY.
1
Start on Ocean Parkway
99 ft
·
8 sec
·
Ocean Parkway
2
Turn right onto Avenue U
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Avenue U
3
Turn left onto Coney Island Avenue
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Coney Island Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on Parkside Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Parkside Avenue
Toward Parkside Avenue
5
Turn left onto Flatbush Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Flatbush Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Avenue
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn right onto Flushing Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Flushing Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto Classon Avenue
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Classon Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
227 ft
·
5 sec
·
Kent Avenue
10
Turn right onto Williamsburg Street East
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Williamsburg Street East
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, La Guardia Airport
12
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Merge onto GCP; I 278
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Central Parkway
16
Continue on I 278
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 47
Toward I 87 North: Albany
18
Continue on I 87
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Major Deegan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 8
Toward West 179th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on West 179th Street
485 ft
·
29 sec
·
West 179th Street
21
Turn left onto Sedgwick Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sedgwick Avenue
22
Turn right onto West 183rd Street
508 ft
·
22 sec
·
West 183rd Street
23
Keep slight right at fork onto West 183rd Street
38 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 183rd Street
24
Arrive at destination
West 183rd Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.80 one way
$7.60 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $4.11 | $8.22 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.48 | $8.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.10 | $10.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 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 | 6.9 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.02 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
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
University Heights, NY
Morning in University Heights on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
14 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
45m 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 Gravesend, NY to University Heights, NY covers 23.1 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Major Deegan Expressway, Coney Island Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.5 miles from Gravesend, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.80 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 18 decision points packed into just 23.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (Washington Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (Flushing Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Classon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Gravesend, NY and University Heights, NY, road signs point toward La Guardia Airport, Manhattan and Bronx.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, African Burial Ground National Monument and General Grant 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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