This 339.9-mile journey from Charlotte, NY, to Jamaica, NY, is estimated to take about 7 hours and 14 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing I 81, the Keystone Shortway, and the New York State Thruway, this drive falls within the Northeast region for both its origin and destination. With a projected fuel cost of around $56 and two recommended stops, it’s feasible as a single-day trip. The route offers a practical approach for getting from point A to point B, making it a straightforward option for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
170 miles from Charlotte, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
New York State Thruway
30 mi
34m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Eastern Expressway
10.8 mi
13m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on this road
72 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right
125 ft·15 sec
3
Turn left onto Spanish Trail
0.2 mi·48 sec·Spanish Trail
4
Turn left onto Latta Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Latta Road
5
Turn right onto Lake Avenue
4.1 mi·6 min·Lake Avenue
6
Turn left onto NY 104
0.4 mi·29 sec·West Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on NY 104
0.2 mi·12 sec·Veterans Memorial Bridge
8
Continue on NY 104
3.4 mi·4 min·Keeler Street Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·38 sec
Toward NY 590 South: Downtown Rochester
10
Merge onto NY 590
3.3 mi·4 min·Outer Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward I 490 East, I 490 West: Victor, Downtown RochesterUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·43 sec
Toward I 490 East: VictorUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 490
11 mi·13 min·Eastern Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
15
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
18
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
19
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
21
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
23
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
24
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
25
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
26
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
27
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
28
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
29
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
30
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
31
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
32
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
33
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
35
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
40
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
41
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
43
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
45
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
47
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
48
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
49
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
50
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
52
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
54
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
56
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
59
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
60
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
61
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.
62
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
63
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
64
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
65
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
66
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Inwood Street
67
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft·2 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
68
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour, 14-minute duration, consider an early morning departure from Charlotte, NY, to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your two planned stops. The $56 fuel cost is manageable, but keep an eye on your gauge, especially before longer stretches like the 98.8 miles on I 81. Since this is a single-day trip and not overly strenuous, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace. A practical tip is to use the recommended stops strategically for both fuel and a break from the 'turn-heavy local drive' sections.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170 miles from Charlotte, NY, or about 3h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 75 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170 miles or 3h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 53m
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 Charlotte, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charlotte, NY
This is one driving day of about 339.9 miles and 7h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Charlotte, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 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 48
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 338.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.2 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 490 East, I 490 West: Victor, Downtown Rochester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 490 East, I 490 West: Victor, Downtown...
8
54.3 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
204.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
9
319.5 mi into trip|~6h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
9
338.5 mi into trip|~7h 11m 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
$54.99 one way
$109.97 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$59.67
$119.34
premium
$4.85
$64.88
$129.75
diesel
$4.80
$64.18
$128.36
Estimated Tolls: $24.05
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(30 mi)$1.50
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
$55
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102
1
$35.69
$16.32
Efficient EV
85
0
$29.74
$13.60
EV Truck/SUV
136
1
$47.59
$21.75
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Charlotte, NY
Morning
in Charlotte on Monday
Local time
10:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Patchy Smoke
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Morning
in Jamaica on Monday
Local time
10:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Smoke
NW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
170 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
6 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
7h 14m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 328.2
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 328.2
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 339.9
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 328.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 339.9-mile trip, with a highway share of 51%. While you'll encounter stretches on major routes like I 81, the longest uninterrupted segment is 98.8 miles on I 81. This suggests a drive that balances faster highway travel with more winding local roads, requiring your attention throughout the 7 hours and 14 minutes. The character of the drive will likely shift as you transition between these different road types.
Only 51% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
68 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in.
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 48 significant decision points across 339.9 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 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,907 ft41 ft
Total Climb
2,366 ft
Total Descent
2,600 ft
Highest Point
1,907 ft
~218.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,865 ft
Notable High Points
1,907 ft at ~218.5 miles+568 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charlotte, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
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 7h 14m. Total distance: 339.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $24.05 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.
Yes — we found about 34 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and Hamilton Grange National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jamaica, NY before the return drive.
