Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
53.2 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Astoria, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Medford, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Astoria, NY to Medford, NY is 53.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 16 minutes via Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within New York, a familiar Northeast region for both departure and arrival. The drive is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. It’s a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Consider this route for a quick, no-fuss transition across Long Island.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 45.9 mi | 1h 2m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Astoria Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Route 112 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Horace Harding Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Express Drive South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Long Island Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 12th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Astoria, NY and Medford, 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
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Horace Harding Expressway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
Turn right onto NY 112
Turn right onto Long Island Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from Astoria, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 52.4 — 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 I 495: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 112: Port Jefferson, Patchogue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.76 one way
$17.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.75 | $23.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Astoria on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Destination
Late night in Medford on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
49°F
North Hills, NY
27 mi in
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 is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on the Long Island Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 45.9 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience with limited changes in road type, characteristic of a modern expressway. The Grand Central Parkway and Astoria Boulevard will get you to and from the main artery. Overall, it’s a direct and predictable path designed for speed and efficiency.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Grand Central Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near GCP / Grand Central Parkway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Astoria, NY and Medford, NY, road signs point toward Eastern Long Island, Riverhead and Manhattan.
Eastern Long Island
Riverhead
Manhattan
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 1h 16m. Total distance: 53.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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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