Drive Time
36m
Distance
16.3 mi
26 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
If you are planning a quick excursion from Roxbury to New York City, you can expect a brief 16.3-mile trip that typically takes about 36 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to navigate the Northeast corridor. You will transition from your starting point directly toward the city, making it a straightforward connection between these two New York locations. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to complete the entire journey in one smooth push.
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
8.1 miles from Roxbury, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Roughly 33% of this 16.3-mile journey is spent on highways, providing a balance between urban navigation and faster-paced stretches. You will spend your longest uninterrupted segment on Flatbush Avenue, which spans 3.2 miles before the road profile shifts. Navigating through Utica Avenue and other local thoroughfares requires you to stay alert as the environment changes. It is a functional drive that blends the stop-and-go nature of city streets with the brief, more fluid sections found on the expressway.
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 0.7 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 16.3 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 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles (Ocean Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles (NY 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Keep slight left at fork toward Marine Parkway Bridge, Brooklyn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto Ocean Parkway toward Prospect Avenue, Prospect Expressway North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27 toward I 278 East: Queens, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Brooklyn Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Between Roxbury, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Prospect Expressway North and Bronx.
Prospect Expressway North
Bronx
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Flatbush Avenue | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| Utica Avenue | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Prospect Expressway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Brooklyn Bridge | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Church Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Linden Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Roxbury, NY and New York City, NY.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn left onto Beach 181st Street
At end of road, turn left onto Rockaway Point Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge
Continue on Flatbush Avenue
Turn slight right onto Utica Avenue
Turn left onto Church Avenue
Turn right onto East 35th Street
Turn left onto NY 27
Turn slight right onto NY 27
Turn right onto Saint Pauls Place
At end of road, turn left onto Parkside Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Fort Hamilton Parkway
Continue on Fort Hamilton Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Ocean Parkway
Take the ramp
Merge onto NY 27
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
Take the exit
Merge onto Brooklyn Bridge
Continue on Centre Street
Turn left onto Reade Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Arrive at destination
Since this is a short 36-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though keep in mind that traffic patterns on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway can fluctuate. You do not need to worry about planning fuel stops given the low $3 cost, but checking your levels before heading out is always a smart habit. Because the longest stretch is only 3.2 miles on Flatbush Avenue, be prepared for frequent transitions between local roads and the highway. Use this quick travel time to your advantage by planning your arrival in the city early to maximize your day. Keeping a steady pace through the urban segments will help you maintain your estimated arrival time without unnecessary stress.
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.
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 16.3 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.1 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Roxbury, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Roxbury, NY
This is one driving day of about 16.3 miles and 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.1 mi from Roxbury, NY · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 16.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.1 miles from Roxbury, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into New York City, 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 New York City, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.65 one way
$5.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $2.88 | $5.75 |
| premium | $4.88 | $3.13 | $6.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Roxbury on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in New York City on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
East Flatbush, NY
8 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Roxbury, NY or browse trips ending in New York City, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
Explore maps for Roxbury, NY or New York City, NY on MapSof.net.
