Origin
Central Valley, NY
Morning in Central Valley on Tuesday
Local time
10:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Central Valley, NY to Queens, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
59.1 mi
95 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central Valley, NY
Olivia Chen
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Central Valley, NY to Queens, NY is 59.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via NJ 17 and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New York State. Expect a journey that's mostly highway driving, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Given its relatively short duration and estimated fuel cost, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion. Consider this trip when you need a direct and efficient way to get from the Central Valley area to Queens.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| New York State Thruway | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| 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 |
| Liberty Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| I 95 EXPR | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 17
— 14.1 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central Valley, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on CR 9
64 ft
·
5 sec
·
Smith Clove Road
2
Turn left onto NY 32
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 32
3
Continue on NY 32
484 ft
·
15 sec
·
State Route 32
Toward NY 17 South
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 87, NYST
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 87
14 mi
·
15 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 17
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 17
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
12
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 EXPR
17
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
19
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchinson River Expressway
22
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
23
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Use the slight left lane.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Use the right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
27
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto 104th Street
205 ft
·
9 sec
·
104th Street
30
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Central Valley, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 16.4 and 56.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
16.4 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
17.8 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
46.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
$9.73 one way
$19.46 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $10.52 | $21.04 |
| premium | $4.92 | $11.45 | $22.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $23.23
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(13.7 mi)
$0.68
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$23
Total
$33
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Queens, NY
Morning in Queens on Tuesday
Local time
10:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 6 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
47°F
Inwood, NY
30 mi in
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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 26m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 65% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll experience stretches of brisk travel, including a notable 14.1-mile segment on NJ 17. The profile suggests a steady pace, minimizing time spent navigating local traffic lights and intersections. While the exact road conditions can vary, the emphasis is on efficient transit between your starting and ending points. Prepare for a driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness, typical of journeys involving interstates and parkways.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.1 mi on NJ 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and New York State Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.4 miles in near NY 17.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.1 miles you will encounter 21 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 16.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Central Valley, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Gsp South: Paterson
31.8 mi in
|
~41m
Fort Lee
31.8 mi in
|
~41m
New York
31.8 mi in
|
~41m
About the Cities
Starting in Central Valley, NY
Full guide →Central Valley and Harriman are neighboring towns in Orange County, New York.
Arriving in Queens, NY
Full guide →Founded 1683
Queens is a crescent-shaped (with a tail) borough traversing the north-to-south width of Long Island and including two of the major New York City area airports, LaGuardia (LGA IATA) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK IATA). It also carries the largest ethnic diversity in its area of any region in the world, with many small enclaves. Jackson Heights, for example, includes a huge Indian area, followed by a Colombian area, and then a Mexican area. Each offers a wide array of authentic shops, native-style cuisine, and festivals modified only slightly by the generally colder New York City experience.
Top landmarks
- • Queensboro Bridge — bridge in New York City
- • Unisphere — Steel structure in Queens, New York
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 59.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.1 miles on NJ 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $23.23 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 Queens, 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 16.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant 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 Queens, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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