Trip from Manhattan, NY to Jamaica, NY

Drive Time

38m

Distance

15.6 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Manhattan, NY to Jamaica, NY covers 15.6 miles and takes about 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 5th Avenue, East 72nd Street, 2nd Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.46 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

7.8 miles from Manhattan, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 38m drive with frequent turns across 15.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

5th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
5th Avenue	0 mi	0m
East 72nd Street	0 mi	0m
2nd Avenue	0 mi	0m
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge	0 mi	0m
NY 25A	0 mi	0m
Van Dam Street	0 mi	0m
Borden Avenue	0 mi	0m
I 495 East	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: 5th Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on 86th Street Transverse

2

Turn right onto 5th Avenue

3

Turn left onto East 72nd Street

4

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue

5

Take the ramp slight left toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Lower Roadway

6

Keep slight left to continue on NY 25A, NY 25

7

Turn right onto Van Dam Street

8

Turn left onto Borden Avenue

9

Take the ramp straight toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

10

Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway

11

Take the exit slight right toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway

12

Take the ramp slight right toward Grand Central Parkway East

13

Merge slight left onto Grand Central Parkway

14

Take the exit slight right toward I 678 South: Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport

15

Merge slight right onto Van Wyck Expressway

16

Take the exit slight right toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue

17

Keep slight right to continue on Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue

18

Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West

19

Turn left onto Liberty Avenue

20

Turn right onto Inwood Street

21

Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way

22

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 7.8 miles from Manhattan, NY.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 7.8 miles

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

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamaica, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Manhattan, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY

This is one driving day of about 15.6 miles and 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Manhattan, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

East New York, NY

8 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Jamaica, 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 Jamaica, NY.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 7.8 mi from Manhattan, NY

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East New York, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 7.8 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.01	$2.46	$4.92
midgrade	$4.48	$2.75	$5.50
premium	$4.86	$2.99	$5.97
diesel	$4.69	$2.88	$5.77

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 5.5 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Manhattan, NY to Jamaica, NY covers 15.6 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 5th Avenue, East 72nd Street, 2nd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 7.8 miles from Manhattan, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.46 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.