Origin
Jefferson, NY
Late night in Jefferson on Thursday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, NY to Queens, NY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 54m
Distance
169.2 mi
272 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 41m
★
6 AM
3h 54m
8 AM
4h 20m
10 AM
4h 3m
12 PM
4h 1m
3 PM
4h 4m
5 PM
4h 19m
8 PM
3h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Jefferson to Queens covers 177.7 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 31 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should plan on this being a full-day commitment rather than a quick sprint. You can comfortably complete the journey in one day, as it doesn't require an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $28 for fuel will cover your transit costs across this Northeast corridor. Given the nature of the local roads, expect a steady pace as you transition from the rural setting of Jefferson toward the density of Queens.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.6 miles from Jefferson, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route features zero highway miles, focusing instead on technical, turn-heavy local roads. You will navigate via Highway 10, Lake Street, and Harper Street, which demand your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. Because the route relies entirely on local infrastructure, the drive feels consistent and intimate rather than fast-paced. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, so prepare for a drive that requires frequent adjustments behind the wheel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 70.5 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 126.6 miles in near NY 17.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 169.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 126.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
126.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
|
NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
128 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
|
NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
156.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m 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
8
166.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 46m 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
166.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 47m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jefferson, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Gsp South: Paterson
142 mi in
|
~3h 9m
Fort Lee
142 mi in
|
~3h 9m
New York
142 mi in
|
~3h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 70.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| State Route 23A | 17.4 mi | 26m |
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| State Highway 23 | 13.4 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 10 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| King's Highway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 23A | 5.2 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 70.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on CR 2A
78 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Harpersfield Road
2
Continue on NY 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 10
3
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 10
4
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 10
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 10
5
Continue on NY 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
6
Turn left onto NY 23
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Harper Street
7
Turn slight right onto NY 23
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
8
Continue on NY 23
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 23
9
Continue on NY 23
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 23
10
Continue on NY 23A
14 mi
·
20 min
·
State Route 23A
11
Continue on NY 23A
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
12
Continue on NY 23A
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 23A
13
Continue on NY 23A
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
14
Continue on NY 23A
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 23A
15
Continue on NY 23A
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 23A
16
Turn slight right onto NY 32A
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
State Route 32A
17
Continue on NY 32A
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 32A
18
Continue on NY 32
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
King's Highway
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
20
Merge onto I 87
71 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 17
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 17
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
26
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4
Use the right lane.
27
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
29
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 EXPR
31
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
33
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchinson River Expressway
36
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
37
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
38
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.
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Use the right lane.
40
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
41
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
43
Turn left onto 104th Street
205 ft
·
9 sec
·
104th Street
44
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour and 31-minute journey through local roads, try to depart early in the day to avoid peak traffic congestion as you approach the city. You have the flexibility of a single planned stop, which is perfect for stretching your legs or refueling your vehicle. Given the winding nature of the roads, keep a close watch on your navigation to stay on track through the various turns. Make sure to account for the $28 fuel cost before you head out, and enjoy the ability to pace yourself without the pressure of high-speed highway merging.
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 84.6 miles from Jefferson, NY, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 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 37 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.6 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, NY
This is one driving day of about 169.2 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Jefferson, 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.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 70.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.6 mi from Jefferson, NY · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.6 miles from Jefferson, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.5 miles.
Arriving in Queens, NY
The final approach into Queens, 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 Queens, 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
$27.85 one way
$55.70 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $30.12 | $60.23 |
| premium | $4.92 | $32.79 | $65.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.36 | $74.71 |
Estimated Tolls: $26.08
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(70.5 mi)
$3.53
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
$28
Tolls
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.77 | $8.12 |
| Efficient EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.80 | $6.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.7 | 0 | $23.69 | $10.83 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Late night in Queens on Thursday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 10 to 17 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 12:55AM EDT until April 13 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:22AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
57°F
Ramapo, NY
85 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
27 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
3h 54m 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 Jefferson, NY to Queens, NY covers 169.2 miles and takes about 3h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, State Route 23A, NJ 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.6 miles from Jefferson, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.85 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 169.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 126.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Jefferson, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
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