Origin
Queens, NY
Late night in Queens on Wednesday
Local time
3:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Queens, NY to Houghton, NY
Data updated 50 seconds ago
Drive Time
7h 3m
Distance
340.1 mi
547 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 52m
★
6 AM
7h 3m
8 AM
7h 26m
10 AM
7h 11m
12 PM
7h 9m
3 PM
7h 12m
5 PM
7h 24m
8 PM
6h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Houghton, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
This 340.1-mile journey from Queens, NY, to Houghton, NY, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 7 hours and 3 minutes to complete. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 75% of the drive on interstates, making it a straightforward, efficient trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $56 and a plan for two stops, this drive offers a practical way to traverse New York State. You'll be following major arteries like I-86 and I-81 for most of your time on the road, which is ideal if you prefer consistent speeds and minimal navigation. This trip is entirely within the Northeast region, keeping the scenery and road types familiar.
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
170 miles from Queens, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 75% of the 340.1 miles spent on interstates. You'll encounter stretches of the Christopher Columbus Highway and significant portions of I-86 and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is a solid 100 miles on I-86, offering a chance to settle in and maintain a steady pace. This profile suggests a drive characterized by consistent speeds and efficient travel, rather than winding scenic byways. It's a route built for covering distance effectively, with the character of the road remaining largely consistent throughout its 7-hour duration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 86 is the longest continuous segment at about 100 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 340.1 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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
8
7.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Crosstown, 37th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crosstown, 37th Street
7
12.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
NY 495 / Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495 / Lincoln Tunnel Expressway toward Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
8
16.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Queens, NY and Houghton, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap and Mahwah.
Del Water Gap
37.3 mi in
|
~59m
Mahwah
37.6 mi in
|
~59m
|
via I 80W
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 100 mi | 1h 56m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 44.6 mi | 52m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 36.5 mi | 42m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| NJ 3 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 100 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queens, NY and Houghton, NY.
1
Start on 104th Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
104th Street
2
Turn sharp right onto Rockaway Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Rockaway Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Woodhaven Boulevard
4.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Woodhaven Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway, Midtown Tunnel
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 495
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 495
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Queens-Midtown Tunnel
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Crosstown, 37th Street
Use the slight left lane.
11
Turn slight left onto East 37th Street
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East 37th Street
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the ramp
474 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
13
Turn right
342 ft
·
11 sec
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto NY 495
105 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto NJ 3
10 mi
·
12 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto US 46
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 46
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
21
Continue on I 80W
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Merge onto I 80
45 mi
·
52 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
27
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
28
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 31
Toward Angelica
32
Turn right onto Peacock Hill Road
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Peacock Hill Road
33
At end of road, turn left onto East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Main Street
34
Enter roundabout onto West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
West Main Street
35
Continue on West Main Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
36
Continue on CR 16
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
County Highway 16
37
Turn right onto NY 19
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Transit Hill Road
38
Continue on NY 19
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
South Main Street
39
Arrive at destination
NY 19
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour estimated duration, departing from Queens early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and avoid potential traffic. Plan for your two stops strategically, perhaps breaking up the 100-mile stretch on I-86. With a fuel cost of around $56, keep an eye on prices as you travel, especially if you plan to refuel during peak times. This route is predominantly highway, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition for sustained driving. A practical tip for this journey is to utilize rest areas on I-81, as they are often well-spaced and provide convenient places to stretch your legs before continuing the final leg to Houghton.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170 miles from Queens, NY, or about 3h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170 miles or 3h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houghton, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Queens, 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 Queens, NY
This is one driving day of about 340.1 miles and 7h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Queens, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 100 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 170 mi from Queens, NY · 3h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
170 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 170 miles from Queens, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100 miles.
Arriving in Houghton, NY
The final approach into Houghton, 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 Houghton, NY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.98 one way
$111.97 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
119 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $60.54 | $121.07 |
| premium | $4.92 | $65.92 | $131.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.09 | $150.18 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
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
$56
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102 | 1 | $35.71 | $16.32 |
| Efficient EV | 85 | 0 | $29.76 | $13.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 136 | 1 | $47.61 | $21.77 |
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Houghton, NY
Late night in Houghton on Wednesday
Local time
3:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Ramapo, NY
170 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
14 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
7h 3m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Queens, NY to Houghton, NY covers 340.1 miles and takes about 7h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 86, I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 170 miles from Queens, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 340.1 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: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Queens, NY and Houghton, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap and Mahwah.
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