This 128.6-mile drive from Cairo, NY to Jamaica, NY is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the New York State Thruway and NJ 17, with State Highway 32 also part of the journey. With a projected fuel cost of around $21, this route offers a straightforward connection within the Northeast region. The drive is primarily highway-based, making it efficient for reaching your destination without the need for an overnight stop. It's a practical option for those looking to cover ground effectively.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.3 miles from Cairo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
70.5 mi
1h 21m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
State Highway 32
8.9 mi
13m
King's Highway
6.8 mi
9m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
4.4 mi
5m
Van Wyck Expressway
4.3 mi
6m
Whitestone Expressway
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 70.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cairo, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on CR 23B
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn slight right onto NY 32
8.9 mi·13 min·State Highway 32
3
Continue on NY 32
6.8 mi·9 min·King's Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
5
Merge onto I 87
71 mi·1 hr 21 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
7
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
8
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
11
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
16
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
18
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
21
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
22
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi·6 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy AirportUse the slight left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
26
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Inwood Street
29
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft·2 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
30
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2 hour and 47 minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart early to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the New York City metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a potential exit is over 70 miles on the New York State Thruway. This route's efficiency means you can focus on enjoying the journey without feeling rushed.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.3 miles from Cairo, NY, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 miles.
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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamaica, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cairo, 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 Cairo, NY
This is one driving day of about 128.6 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Cairo, 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.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 70.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 87.2 and 127.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
87.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
88.5 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
8
126.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlanti...
9
127.2 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.17 one way
$42.34 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$22.89
$45.78
premium
$4.92
$24.93
$49.85
diesel
$5.61
$28.39
$56.79
Estimated Tolls: $26.08
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(70.5 mi)$3.53
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
$21
Tolls
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.50
$6.17
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.25
$5.14
EV Truck/SUV
51.4
0
$18.00
$8.23
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Cairo, NY
Morning
in Cairo on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Morning
in Jamaica on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 6 to 12 mph3% chanceLive forecast
63°F
Ramapo, NY
64 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
47 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
2h 47m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 110.9
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 110.9
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 124.2
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
9 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 124.2
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 110.9
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 124.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 36% of it being highway. The New York State Thruway will dominate a significant portion, offering a 70.5-mile stretch of uninterrupted travel. While much of the journey utilizes major roadways like NJ 17, you'll also encounter State Highway 32, which may present a change in pace. This combination means you'll experience both the efficiency of high-speed travel and potentially more varied conditions as you transition between these main roads.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.5 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 87.2 miles in near NY 17.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 128.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 87.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.5 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
535 ft11 ft
Total Climb
817 ft
Total Descent
1,153 ft
Highest Point
535 ft
~73.5 mi in
Elevation Range
524 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cairo, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Queens.
Jamaica is an expansive neighborhood located in eastern Queens. Historically consisting of predominantly black communities, Jamaica now is home to an extremely diverse array of peoples and cultures.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 128.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.5 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $26.08 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Jamaica, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 87.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.5 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jamaica, NY before heading back.
