Origin
Sterling, NY
Afternoon in Sterling on Sunday
Local time
2:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling, NY to Queens, NY
Drive Time
5h 23m
Distance
305.3 mi
491 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Sterling, NY to Queens, NY covers 305.3 miles and takes about 5h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 104A, West 1st Street South, State Route 48 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
152.7 miles from Sterling, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 23m drive with frequent turns across 305.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 104A is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sterling, NY to Queens, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 104A | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 1st Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 48 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 84 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 380 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Keystone Shortway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 104A
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on State Highway 104A
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 104A
2
Turn right
11 mi
·
17 min
3
Turn right onto West 1st Street South
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Street South
4
Continue on State Route 48
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 48
5
Continue straight
7.0 mi
·
7 min
6
Continue straight
8.7 mi
·
10 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Binghamton
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 81 South: Binghamton
8
Merge slight left
2.8 mi
·
4 min
9
Continue straight
0.8 mi
·
49 sec
10
Continue straight
73 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton
53 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 81 South: Scranton
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
13
Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
14
Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380 South: Mount Pocono
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 East: Stroudsburg
16
Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway
71 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Keystone Shortway
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
18
Merge slight right
2.1 mi
·
2 min
19
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
1 min
20
Turn slight left
11 mi
·
11 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
22
Merge slight right
1.1 mi
·
1 min
23
Take the exit slight right toward Weehawken, Hoboken, Ferries to New York City
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Weehawken, Hoboken, Ferries to New York City
24
Continue on South Marginal Highway
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
South Marginal Highway
25
Turn right onto Boulevard East
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulevard East
26
Take the ramp right toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
125 ft
·
15 sec
·
Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
27
Turn right onto Lincoln Tunnel access
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Lincoln Tunnel access
28
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Tunnel
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lincoln Tunnel
29
Keep slight right to continue on Dyer Avenue
266 ft
·
7 sec
·
Dyer Avenue
30
Keep slight right to continue on 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden
335 ft
·
8 sec
·
36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden
31
Continue on Dyer Avenue
351 ft
·
20 sec
·
Dyer Avenue
32
Turn left onto West 36th Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West 36th Street
33
Take the ramp straight toward I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
69 ft
·
2 sec
·
I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
34
Keep slight left
2.5 mi
·
4 min
35
Take the exit slight right toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia Airport
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia Airport
36
Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Island Expressway
37
Take the exit slight right toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard
38
Keep slight right to continue on NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways
39
Keep slight right to continue on Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways
40
Turn right onto Woodhaven Boulevard
3.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Woodhaven Boulevard
41
Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard
344 ft
·
10 sec
·
Rockaway Boulevard
42
Turn slight left onto Liberty Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Avenue
43
Turn right onto 104th Street
207 ft
·
9 sec
·
104th Street
44
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.7 miles from Sterling, NY, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.7 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sterling, 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 Sterling, NY
This is one driving day of about 305.3 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sterling, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 152.7 mi from Sterling, NY · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
153 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 152.7 miles from Sterling, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Queens, NY
The final approach into Queens, 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 Queens, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.70 one way
$99.40 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
107 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $53.86 | $107.72 |
| premium | $4.88 | $58.69 | $117.38 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $67.83 | $135.65 |
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
$50
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.6 | 1 | $32.06 | $14.65 |
| Efficient EV | 76.3 | 0 | $26.71 | $12.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 122.1 | 1 | $42.74 | $19.54 |
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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
Queens, NY
Afternoon in Queens on Sunday
Local time
2:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
153 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
7 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
5h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sterling, NY to Queens, NY covers 305.3 miles and takes about 5h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 104A, West 1st Street South, State Route 48. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152.7 miles from Sterling, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sterling, NY to Queens, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sterling, NY to Queens, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Queens, NY
More from Sterling, NY
More trips to Queens, NY
Explore more options from Sterling, NY or browse trips ending in Queens, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
Explore maps for Sterling, NY or Queens, NY on MapSof.net.