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Trip from Cedarhurst, NY to New York City, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

41m

Distance

21.9 mi

35 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 38m ★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Nassau County, New York, United States of America, suburb of NYC

Cedarhurst, NY

Wikimedia Commons

most populous city in the United States

New York City, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are traveling from Cedarhurst to New York City, you are looking at a manageable 21.9-mile journey that typically takes about 41 minutes. This short transit across the Northeast is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel budget of just $3, it is an incredibly economical way to reach the heart of the city. You will navigate a mix of local roads and major expressways, making it a straightforward connection between Long Island and NYC. Since both locations are within the Northeast, you will experience a familiar, urban-focused driving environment throughout the entire trip.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Van Wyck Expressway 5 mi 6m
Long Island Expressway 3.4 mi 5m
Rockaway Boulevard 2.5 mi 6m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway 2 mi 3m
Williamsburg Bridge 1.9 mi 4m
Nassau Expressway 1.2 mi 1m
Rockaway Turnpike 0.8 mi 1m
Delancey Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Van Wyck Expressway — 5 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedarhurst, NY and New York City, NY.

1

Start on Cedarhurst Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Cedarhurst Avenue
2

Turn left onto West Broadway

0.4 mi · 51 sec · West Broadway
3

Turn right onto Rockaway Turnpike

0.8 mi · 1 min · Rockaway Turnpike
Use the right lane.
4

Continue on Rockaway Boulevard

2.5 mi · 6 min · Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn straight onto NY 878

1.2 mi · 1 min · Nassau Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
9

Continue on I 678

5.0 mi · 6 min · Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 58 sec
Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 495

3.4 mi · 5 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 17W Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 278

2.0 mi · 3 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
16

Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge

0.7 mi · 1 min · Williamsburg Bridge
Exit 32A Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge

1.2 mi · 2 min · Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
18

Continue on Delancey Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on Kenmare Street

0.2 mi · 57 sec · Kenmare Street
20

At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
21

Turn right onto Howard Street

510 ft · 24 sec · Howard Street
22

Turn left onto Broadway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Broadway
Use the straight lane.
23

Arrive at destination

Broadway

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 21.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
11.1 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
7
15.1 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 17W Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
7
16.2 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
9
18.5 mi into trip | ~31m in | Williamsburg Bridge

Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 32A Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
7
21.1 mi into trip | ~38m in | Lafayette Street

At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.60 one way

$7.21 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $3.90 $7.80
premium $4.92 $4.24 $8.49
diesel $5.61 $4.84 $9.67

Estimated Tolls: $0.06

Rockaway Turnpike (0.8 mi) $0.06

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Tolls

$0

Total

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.6 0 $2.30 $1.05
Efficient EV 5.5 0 $1.92 $0.88
EV Truck/SUV 8.8 0 $3.07 $1.40

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Cedarhurst, NY

Morning in Cedarhurst on Sunday

Local time

8:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New York City, NY

Morning in New York City on Sunday

Local time

8:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

E 6 to 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

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

12 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

41m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between dense local arteries and high-traffic expressways. With a 56% highway share, you will spend a significant portion of your time on the Van Wyck Expressway and the Long Island Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 5-mile segment on the Van Wyck, which serves as the primary backbone of your transit. Beyond these highway sections, the route utilizes Rockaway Boulevard to navigate the transition between Cedarhurst and the city. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that requires your full attention as you shift from suburban roads into the busier metropolitan flow.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5 mi on Van Wyck Expressway.

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 11.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

37 ft 8 ft

Total Climb

29 ft

Total Descent

19 ft

Highest Point

37 ft

~8.2 mi in

Elevation Range

29 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Cedarhurst, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Bronx and Manhattan.

Bronx

5.2 mi in | ~11m

Manhattan

18.5 mi in | ~31m | via Williamsburg Bridge

About the Cities

Starting in Cedarhurst, NY

Full guide →

Arriving in New York City, NY

Full guide →

“The City That Never Sleeps” · Founded 1624

New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation. From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.

Top landmarks

  • Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
  • National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
  • Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

This is a super easy same-day round trip, covering just 21.9 miles and taking about 41 minutes each way. You'll be back before you know it, with plenty of time to spare.

Family Friendly

While short at 21.9 miles, the 10/10 complexity for navigation might be a bit much with kids in tow. It's quick enough that they won't get bored, but be prepared for some intense driving.

Solo Traveler

At 21.9 miles and 41 minutes, this is a very manageable solo drive. The 56% highway portion offers a good cruising experience without being overly demanding.

EV Driver

This route is definitely short enough for an EV, at only 21.9 miles. You won't need to worry about finding a charger along this quick trip.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). 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 5 miles on Van Wyck Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.06 in tolls one way, starting with Rockaway Turnpike. 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 New York City, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (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 New York City, NY before heading back.

How this page is built

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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