Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
16m
Distance
8.4 mi
14 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Astoria, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Kew Gardens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Astoria, NY to Kew Gardens, NY is 8.4 miles and takes about 16 minutes via Grand Central Parkway, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New York state, making it an easy local journey. The drive is primarily highway-focused, suggesting a straightforward commute rather than a leisurely exploration. Given its short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Central Parkway | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| Astoria Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Union Turnpike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 80th Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 77th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kew Gardens Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Austin Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Astoria, NY and Kew Gardens, NY.
Start on 12th Street
Turn right onto Astoria Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278; GCP
Keep slight left at fork onto GCP
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Grand Central Parkway
Continue on Grand Central Parkway
Turn right onto 77th Avenue
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
Continue on Kew Gardens Road
Turn right onto 80th Road
Turn sharp right onto Austin Street
Turn right onto Union Turnpike
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 8.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto GCP / Grand Central Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 25: 78th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 77th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 80th Road
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp right onto Austin Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$1.38 one way
$2.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $1.50 | $2.99 |
| premium | $4.92 | $1.63 | $3.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.85 | $3.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.88 | $0.40 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Astoria on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Morning in Kew Gardens on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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.
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 79% of the 8.4 miles on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Grand Central Parkway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 6.5 miles. Expect a relatively fast-paced journey, characteristic of urban parkways designed for efficient travel between New York City boroughs. The route utilizes major thoroughfares like Astoria Boulevard and Queens Boulevard, integrating parkway driving with some boulevard segments.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Grand Central Parkway and Astoria Boulevard. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near GCP / Grand Central Parkway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 8.4 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 1.3 miles (GCP / Grand Central Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (77th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Astoria, NY to Kew Gardens, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Grand Central Parkway East along the way.
Grand Central Parkway East
Founded 1659
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 16m. Total distance: 8.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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