Trip from New York City, NY to Jamaica, NY

Drive Time

38m

Distance

16.7 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from New York City, NY to Jamaica, NY covers 16.7 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 Chambers Street, Centre Street, Brooklyn Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.64 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

8.4 miles from New York City, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 38m drive with frequent turns across 16.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Chambers Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Chambers Street	0 mi	0m
Centre Street	0 mi	0m
Brooklyn Bridge	0 mi	0m
I 278	0 mi	0m
Cadman Plaza West	0 mi	0m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East	0 mi	0m
Prospect Street	0 mi	0m
Jay Street	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Chambers Street — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Broadway

2

Turn left onto Chambers Street

3

Turn right onto Centre Street

4

Turn left onto Brooklyn Bridge

5

Take the exit slight right toward I 278: Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Cadman Plaza West

6

Turn right onto I 278: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

7

Turn right onto Cadman Plaza West

8

Turn slight right onto Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East

9

Turn slight right onto Prospect Street

10

Turn right onto Jay Street

11

At the end of the road, turn left onto Sands Street

12

Take the ramp slight right toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

13

Merge slight left onto Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

14

Keep slight right to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

15

Take the exit slight right toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street

16

Continue on I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48 Street

17

Keep slight right to continue on I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street

18

Keep slight left to continue on I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead

19

Keep slight left to continue on I 495 East: Eastern Long Island

20

Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway

21

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

22

Take the ramp slight right toward Grand Central Parkway East

23

Merge slight left onto Grand Central Parkway

24

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

25

Merge slight right onto Van Wyck Expressway

26

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

27

Keep slight right to continue on Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue

28

Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West

29

Turn left onto Liberty Avenue

30

Turn right onto Inwood Street

31

Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way

32

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 8.4 miles from New York City, 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 8.4 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 New York City, 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 New York City, NY

This is one driving day of about 16.7 miles and 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from New York City, 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 8.4 mi from New York City, NY

East Flatbush, 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 8.4 miles from New York City, 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	$2.64	$5.27
midgrade	$4.48	$2.95	$5.89
premium	$4.86	$3.20	$6.39
diesel	$4.69	$3.09	$6.17

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from New York City, NY to Jamaica, NY covers 16.7 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Chambers Street, Centre Street, Brooklyn Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 8.4 miles from New York City, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.64 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.