Origin
Great Kills, NY
Night in Great Kills on Friday
Local time
11:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Great Kills, NY to Jamaica, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
30.1 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Kills, NY
Illya Goloborodko
Jamaica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 30.1-mile drive from Great Kills, NY, to Jamaica, NY, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 53 minutes. With a modest fuel cost of around $5, it's an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. The route primarily utilizes major parkways and expressways, making it a quick transit between two points within New York. Expect a driving experience that's efficient and direct, connecting you across the Northeast region with minimal fuss. This journey is best suited for those prioritizing speed and convenience.
About the Cities
Arriving in Jamaica, NY
Full guide →Jamaica is an expansive neighborhood located in eastern Queens. Historically consisting of predominantly black communities, Jamaica now is home to an extremely diverse array of peoples and cultures.
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 53m. Total distance: 30.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
You'll spend about 68% of this 30.1-mile journey on highways, specifically the Staten Island Expressway and the Belt Parkway, with Manor Road offering a brief change of pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.5 miles on the Belt Parkway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The profile of this drive is decidedly highway-focused, meaning you'll experience consistent speeds and limited interactions with local traffic for the majority of the trip. It’s designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Belt Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Belt Parkway and Staten Island Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in.
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 22 decision points packed into just 30.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
10.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward John F Kennedy International Airport, Belt Parkway East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16
Toward John F Kennedy International Airport, Be...
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
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 19
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wy...
8
26.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Van Wyck Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kenned...
8
27.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, Van Wyck Expressway
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 1N
Toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, V...
9
27.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rockaway Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Great Kills, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Brooklyn, Upper Level, John F Kennedy International Airport, Belt Parkway East and Kennedy Airport.
Brooklyn
5.4 mi in
|
~13m
Upper Level
8 mi in
|
~18m
|
via I 278
John F Kennedy International Airport
10.2 mi in
|
~21m
Belt Parkway East
10.2 mi in
|
~21m
Kennedy Airport
25.7 mi in
|
~45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Parkway | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| Staten Island Expressway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Manor Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Richmond Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Nassau Expressway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Arthur Kill Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Belt Parkway
— 14.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Kills, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Giffords Lane
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Giffords Lane
2
Turn right onto Arthur Kill Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Arthur Kill Road
3
Turn right onto Richmond Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Richmond Road
4
Continue on Richmond Road
447 ft
·
14 sec
·
Richmond Road
5
Continue on Rockland Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rockland Avenue
6
Turn right onto Manor Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Manor Road
7
Turn right onto Schmidts Lane
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Schmidts Lane
8
Turn left onto Slosson Avenue
260 ft
·
9 sec
·
Slosson Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 278 East: Staten Island Expressway, Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
10
Merge onto I 278
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Toward Upper Level
12
Continue on I 278
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
13
Continue on I 278
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Gowanus Expressway
14
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16
Toward John F Kennedy International Airport, Belt Parkway East
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto BP
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Belt Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 19
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto NY 878
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1N
Toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 678
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway
21
Keep slight left at fork
65 ft
·
1 sec
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
24
Continue on I 678
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
25
Take the exit
504 ft
·
15 sec
Exit 4
Toward Liberty Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
26
Continue on Van Wyck Expressway East
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway East
27
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Inwood Street
29
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tuskegee Airmen Way
30
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.1 mi from Great Kills, NY · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Great Kills, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jamaica, NY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Jamaica, 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
$4.95 one way
$9.91 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $5.36 | $10.72 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.83 | $11.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.65 | $13.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Jamaica, NY
Night in Jamaica on Friday
Local time
11:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
9 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
53m 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 Great Kills, NY to Jamaica, NY covers 30.1 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Belt Parkway, Staten Island Expressway, Manor Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.1 miles from Great Kills, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.95 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 22 decision points packed into just 30.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Great Kills, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Brooklyn, Upper Level, John F Kennedy International Airport, Belt Parkway East and Kennedy Airport.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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