Origin
Parkchester, NY
Late night in Parkchester on Saturday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Parkchester, NY to Elmhurst, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
10.6 mi
17 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parkchester, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
Parkchester, NY to Elmhurst, NY is 10.6 miles and takes about 21 minutes via the Whitestone Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on expressways, making it a very quick hop. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so don't expect a leisurely cruise. This route is ideal for a quick, no-fuss transfer between locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 10.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This is a mixed drive with 57% highway share, meaning you'll experience a good amount of time on faster-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 2.3 miles on the Whitestone Expressway. The route begins with expressway driving, characterized by higher speeds and more traffic flow. As you progress, the nature of the drive might shift slightly, but the overall feel remains that of navigating an urban-to-urban corridor. Be prepared for typical city traffic patterns, especially as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Whitestone Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 2.3 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 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 10.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
1.3 mi into trip
|
~4m 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
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
8
8.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway, Midtown Tunnel
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 12B
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway, Midt...
8
9.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 69th Street, Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19
Toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 6...
7
9.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Parkchester, NY and Elmhurst, NY, road signs point toward New Haven Connecticut, Queens and Rockaways.
New Haven Connecticut
0.7 mi in
|
~3m
Queens
1.3 mi in
|
~4m
Rockaways
9.5 mi in
|
~17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Whitestone Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Long Island Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hutchinson River Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Metropolitan Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Whitestone Expressway
— 2.3 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parkchester, NY and Elmhurst, NY.
1
Start on Unionport Road
380 ft
·
22 sec
·
Unionport Road
2
Continue on Unionport Road
479 ft
·
28 sec
·
Unionport Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Metropolitan Avenue
128 ft
·
5 sec
·
Metropolitan Avenue
4
Continue on Metropolitan Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Metropolitan Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
6
Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
511 ft
·
17 sec
·
Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: Cross Bronx Expressway, New Haven Connecticut
8
Merge onto I 95
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchinson River Expressway
11
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
12
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 12B
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway, Midtown Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 495
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Long Island Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 19
Toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 69th Street, Grand Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
137 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.74 one way
$3.49 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $1.89 | $3.77 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.05 | $4.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.34 | $4.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$7
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.93 | $0.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Saturday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
21m 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 Parkchester, NY to Elmhurst, NY covers 10.6 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Whitestone Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.3 miles from Parkchester, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.74 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 short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 10.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Parkchester, NY and Elmhurst, NY, road signs point toward New Haven Connecticut, Queens and Rockaways.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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