Origin
Inwood, NY
Evening in Inwood on Wednesday
Local time
7:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Inwood, NY to Queens, NY
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
33m
Distance
18.6 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inwood, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 18.7 miles, this local trip from Inwood to Queens is a straightforward journey typically taking about 43 minutes. Because the route is entirely local, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, making it a perfect one-day excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $3 on fuel for the entire drive. Navigating through the Northeast, you will rely on surface streets like West 184th Street and Amsterdam Avenue rather than major interstates. It is a practical, no-frills commute that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without the need for extensive travel planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
9.3 miles from Inwood, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Since this route features zero highway driving, you won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches to cruise on; in fact, the longest segment is on West 184th Street. The journey requires frequent maneuvering through city infrastructure and over the Washington Bridge. This is not a high-speed interstate experience but rather a series of connected local roads. You will feel the constant stop-and-go rhythm of urban navigation as you transition between these specific neighborhood streets.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Van Wyck Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Van Wyck Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 18.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
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 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
7
11.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
8
15.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlanti...
9
16 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
6
17 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
Liberty Avenue
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Inwood, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward New England and Eastern Long Island.
New England
1.9 mi in
|
~4m
Eastern Long Island
1.9 mi in
|
~4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Van Wyck Expressway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Whitestone Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Liberty Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Van Wyck Expressway West | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Hutchinson River Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Van Wyck Expressway
— 4.3 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Inwood, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on US 9
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto West 183rd Street
311 ft
·
17 sec
·
West 183rd Street
3
Turn right onto Wadsworth Avenue
489 ft
·
22 sec
·
Wadsworth Avenue
4
Turn left onto West 181st Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 181st Street
5
Continue on Washington Bridge
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Bridge
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 95 North: Cross Bronx Expressway, New England, Eastern Long Island
7
Merge onto I 95; US 1
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchinson River Expressway
10
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
11
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Use the slight left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto 104th Street
205 ft
·
9 sec
·
104th Street
18
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 43-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, given the nature of local city roads, plan for potential traffic delays that could extend your travel time beyond the 18.7-mile baseline. You don't need to worry about planning rest stops or long-distance refueling since the $3 fuel cost is minimal. To ensure a smooth experience, focus on your navigation through the specific turns required on Amsterdam Avenue and the Washington Bridge. Use the lack of highway miles to your advantage by remaining alert to local traffic patterns and intersection signals.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 9.3 miles from Inwood, NY, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.3 miles.
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 18.6 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.3 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Inwood, NY.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Inwood, NY
This is one driving day of about 18.6 miles and 33m.
At 18.6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Van Wyck Expressway for about 4.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.3 mi from Inwood, NY · 16m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.3 miles from Inwood, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Queens, NY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Queens, 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
$3.06 one way
$6.12 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.31 | $6.62 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.61 | $7.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.11 | $8.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
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
$3
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Queens, NY
Evening in Queens on Wednesday
Local time
7:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 13 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 8:44AM EDT until April 14 at 9:30AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:13PM EDT until April 16 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
30 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
33m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Inwood, NY to Queens, NY covers 18.6 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Van Wyck Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway, Whitestone Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.3 miles from Inwood, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.06 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 14 decision points packed into just 18.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Inwood, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward New England and Eastern Long Island.
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