Origin
Thomaston, NY
Late night in Thomaston on Thursday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
25m
Distance
12.3 mi
20 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thomaston, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to travel from Thomaston to Queens, you are looking at a short, 12.9-mile journey that typically takes about 33 minutes. Because of the quick duration, this is easily completed as a day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You can expect to spend about $2 on fuel for the entire excursion, making it an extremely budget-friendly commute. Since the trip takes place entirely within the Northeast region of New York, you will remain in familiar territory throughout the drive. This route is best viewed as a simple local connection rather than a traditional road trip, offering a straightforward way to reach your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
6.2 miles from Thomaston, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way from Thomaston to Queens. This route contains no highway driving, meaning you will be navigating surface streets for the entirety of the 33-minute trip. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for frequent stops, traffic signals, and the steady pace of residential or commercial corridors. The road’s personality is defined by its technical, localized nature rather than high-speed cruising. Stay alert behind the wheel, as the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches requires your full attention on navigating turns and local intersections.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Liberty Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near Horace Harding Boulevard.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 12.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Horace Harding Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Fairway Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Turn sharp right onto Horace Harding Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto Fairway Drive toward I 495 West: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Utopia Parkway, 164th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Liberty Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Union Turnpike | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Utopia Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Van Wyck Expressway West | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Lakeville Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Northern Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Thomaston, NY and Queens, NY.
Start on Linden Street
Keep slight right at fork onto Linden Street
Turn left onto Susquehanna Avenue
Turn right onto NY 25A
Turn left onto Lakeville Road
Turn sharp right onto Horace Harding Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Fairway Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Horace Harding Expressway
Turn left onto Utopia Parkway
Turn right onto Union Turnpike
Turn left onto Main Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
Turn left onto 104th Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a short 12.9-mile jaunt, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops, as the duration is brief enough to drive through without a break. To make the most of your trip, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic, which can easily extend that 33-minute estimate. Keep your $2 fuel budget in mind, but ensure your vehicle is ready for a stop-and-go environment rather than sustained highway speeds. A practical tip for this specific route is to keep a reliable GPS app open, as the turn-heavy nature of local streets can be easy to navigate incorrectly without guidance.
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 12 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.2 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Have your navigation ready before leaving Thomaston, NY.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Thomaston, NY
This is one driving day of about 12.3 miles and 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.2 mi from Thomaston, NY · 10m into the drive
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 6.2 miles from Thomaston, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Queens, NY if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.02 one way
$4.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $2.19 | $4.38 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.38 | $4.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.72 | $5.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.10
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
$2
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 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 | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Thomaston on Thursday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Queens on Thursday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 8:44AM EDT until April 14 at 9:30AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:13PM EDT until April 16 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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