Trip from Lawrence, NY to Queens, NY

Drive Time

19m

Distance

8.2 mi

13 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 18m ★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Queens, NY, NY

Queens, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

If you are traveling from Lawrence to Queens, you are looking at a quick 8.2-mile journey that typically takes about 25 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Northeast, moving through local New York corridors rather than crossing regional boundaries. You will rely on Rockaway Turnpike, Rockaway Boulevard, and the Nassau Expressway to complete the trip. Because the drive is so short, you certainly do not need an overnight stay; it is a straightforward day trip that is easy to manage in one go. With a fuel cost estimate of just $1, this is an incredibly economical way to get across this part of the state.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

4.1 miles from Lawrence, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps your focus engaged throughout the entire 8.2-mile distance. Unlike a long-haul interstate cruise, this route features zero highway driving, meaning you will navigate surface streets rather than open lanes. There is no significant uninterrupted stretch, as the path relies on consistent navigation through the Rockaway Turnpike and surrounding roads. You will find that the character of the road remains urban and technical, requiring you to stay alert through frequent turns. It is a practical, no-frills connection that emphasizes local transit over high-speed travel.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rockaway Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 4.4 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 early in the drive near Rockaway Turnpike.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 8.2 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: near the start (Rockaway Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Rockaway Turnpike

Turn right onto Rockaway Turnpike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
5.2 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx
7
5.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway
8
5.9 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Rockaway Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 2 Toward Rockaway Boulevard
5
6 mi into trip | ~13m in | Rockaway Boulevard

Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Lawrence, NY to Queens, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Bronx along the way.

Bronx

5.2 mi in | ~11m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Rockaway Boulevard 4.4 mi 11m
Rockaway Turnpike 1.5 mi 3m
Nassau Expressway 1.2 mi 1m
103rd Street 0.2 mi <1m
Liberty Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
104th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Van Wyck Expressway <0.1 mi <1m
Broadway <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Rockaway Boulevard — 4.4 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, NY and Queens, NY.

1

Start on Broadway

77 ft · 5 sec · Broadway
2

Turn right onto Rockaway Turnpike

1.5 mi · 3 min · Rockaway Turnpike
Use the none lane.
3

Continue on Rockaway Boulevard

2.5 mi · 6 min · Rockaway Boulevard
Use the none lane.
4

Turn straight onto NY 878

1.2 mi · 1 min · Nassau Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway Use the none lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

417 ft · 12 sec
Exit 2 Toward Rockaway Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway

202 ft · 11 sec · Van Wyck Expressway
9

Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard

1.9 mi · 5 min · Rockaway Boulevard
Use the none lane.
10

Turn right onto 103rd Street

0.2 mi · 36 sec · 103rd Street
11

Turn right onto Liberty Avenue

257 ft · 11 sec · Liberty Avenue
12

Turn right onto 104th Street

205 ft · 9 sec · 104th Street
13

Arrive at destination

104th Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a brief 25-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should account for typical local traffic patterns. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, as the 8.2-mile distance is easily completed in one session. Keep your eyes on the road, as the reliance on local thoroughfares like Rockaway Boulevard means you will be navigating intersections frequently. Given the low $1 fuel cost, there is no need to worry about refueling logistics before you head out. Prioritize checking your navigation app before you leave to ensure the most efficient path through these specific local roads.

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 4.1 miles from Lawrence, NY, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.4 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 8.2 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 4.1 miles or 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 15m

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 Lawrence, 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 Lawrence, NY

This is one driving day of about 8.2 miles and 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lawrence, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Rockaway Boulevard for about 4.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 4.1 mi from Lawrence, NY · 9m into the drive

Downtown Jamaica, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jamaica, NY

4 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

Richmond Hill, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 8.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jamaica, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 4.1 miles from Lawrence, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

$1.33 one way

$2.67 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $1.45 $2.89
premium $4.88 $1.58 $3.15
diesel $5.64 $1.82 $3.64

Estimated Tolls: $0.10

Rockaway Turnpike (1.5 mi) $0.10

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

$1

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.5 0 $0.86 $0.39
Efficient EV 2.1 0 $0.72 $0.33
EV Truck/SUV 3.3 0 $1.15 $0.52

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Lawrence, NY

Evening in Lawrence on Sunday

Local time

6:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Queens, NY

Evening in Queens on Sunday

Local time

6:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

57°F

Jamaica, NY

4 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

5 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

19m 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 Lawrence, NY to Queens, NY covers 8.2 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rockaway Boulevard, Rockaway Turnpike, Nassau Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.1 miles from Lawrence, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.33 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 demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 8.2 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: near the start (Rockaway Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lawrence, NY to Queens, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Bronx along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Queens, NY to Lawrence, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

7.9 mi 18m

Explore more options from Lawrence, NY or browse trips ending in Queens, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Explore maps for Lawrence, NY or Queens, NY on MapSof.net.