Origin
Medina, NY
Evening in Medina on Thursday
Local time
8:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
7h 57m
Distance
369.9 mi
595 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medina, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
This 369.9-mile drive from Medina, NY, to Queens, NY, will take approximately 7 hours and 57 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via I-81 and the New York State Thruway, with a portion on the Keystone Shortway. With a fuel cost estimated at $61 and two planned stops, this route offers a straightforward journey across New York. The overall feel is a functional drive, connecting two points in the Northeast region without extensive detours, suitable for those prioritizing arrival time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
184.9 miles from Medina, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 57m. Total distance: 369.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with a 55% highway share. While you'll encounter stretches of faster-paced highway travel, the profile is described as 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a significant portion involves more frequent turns and potentially slower local roads as you approach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 98.8 miles on I-81, offering a good period of consistent travel before you transition to more varied road conditions.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 89.3 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 49 significant decision points across 369.9 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 89.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 239.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 339.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the ramp toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Medina, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford and Clifton.
Clyde
Mt Pocono
Milford
Clifton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 98.8 mi | 1h 57m |
| Keystone Shortway | 70.8 mi | 1h 27m |
| New York State Thruway | 30 mi | 34m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Western Expressway | 20.1 mi | 26m |
| State Route 31 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| NJ 3 | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| East Lake Road | 9.9 mi | 14m |
Step-by-step road directions between Medina, NY and Queens, NY.
Start on NY 31; NY 63
Turn right onto NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Turn straight onto NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Turn straight onto NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Turn right onto NY 19 Truck; NY 31
Turn left onto NY 19 Truck; NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 531
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 490
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on NY 414
Turn left onto NY 318
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
Continue on US 20; NY 5
Turn right onto State Street
Turn left onto Dill Street
Continue on Loop Road
Turn left onto Genesee Street
Continue on US 20
Turn right onto NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Continue on NY 41
Turn right onto NY 281
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto US 46
Continue on US 46
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 495
Take the exit
Continue on South Marginal Highway
Turn right onto Boulevard East
Take the ramp
Turn right
Merge onto NJ 495
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on Dyer Avenue
Turn left onto West 36th Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Woodhaven Boulevard
Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard
Turn slight left onto Liberty Avenue
Turn right onto 104th Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7-hour, 57-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Medina, NY, to avoid potential traffic, especially as you get closer to Queens. With two recommended stops, plan to stretch your legs roughly every 2-3 hours to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major town could be 98.8 miles on I-81. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your timing based on real-time conditions.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 81 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.9 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Medina, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Medina, NY
This is one driving day of about 369.9 miles and 7h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 184.9 mi from Medina, NY · 4h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
185 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.
A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 184.9 miles from Medina, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.8 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$60.89 one way
$121.78 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $65.84 | $131.68 |
| premium | $4.92 | $71.69 | $143.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $81.67 | $163.34 |
Estimated Tolls: $17.50
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
$61
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111 | 1 | $38.84 | $17.76 |
| Efficient EV | 92.5 | 1 | $32.37 | $14.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 148 | 1 | $51.79 | $23.67 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Medina on Thursday
Local time
8:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Queens on Thursday
Local time
8:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
53°F
Union, NY
185 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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