Origin
Selden, NY
Morning in Selden on Saturday
Local time
9:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Selden, 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
1h 11m
Distance
50.3 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Selden, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
The drive from Selden, NY to Elmhurst, NY covers 50.3 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Long Island Expressway, Nicolls Road, Middle Country Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44 miles on Long Island Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.28 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Starting in Selden, NY
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 50.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 11m highway drive covering 50.3 miles, with most of the trip on Long Island Expressway and Nicolls Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 44 miles on Long Island Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Island Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 44 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Nicolls Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward CR 97 south: Blue Point
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 97 south: Blue Point
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: New York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 495 West: New York
8
49.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
49.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m 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
6
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 44 mi | 59m |
| Nicolls Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Middle Country Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Express Drive North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 44 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Selden, NY and Elmhurst, NY.
1
Start on NY 25
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Middle Country Road
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward CR 97 south: Blue Point
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto CR 97
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicolls Road
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
Use the right lane.
5
Turn straight onto Express Drive North
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Express Drive North
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I-495 west: New York
7
Merge onto I 495
44 mi
·
59 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
137 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.1 mi from Selden, NY · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Selden, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elmhurst, NY
The final approach into Elmhurst, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.28 one way
$16.56 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $8.95 | $17.91 |
| premium | $4.92 | $9.75 | $19.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.11 | $22.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.04 | $3.22 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Elmhurst, NY
Morning in Elmhurst on Saturday
Local time
9:34 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
5 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
1h 11m 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 Selden, NY to Elmhurst, NY covers 50.3 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Nicolls Road, Middle Country Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.1 miles from Selden, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.28 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Selden, NY to Elmhurst, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial. 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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