Chautauqua, NY to Jamaica, NY is 396.1 miles and takes about 8h 26m via Keystone Shortway and US 62, with a fuel budget near $66 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight stop is recommended. This drive primarily stays within the Northeast region, moving from New York through Pennsylvania before reaching New York again. It's a trip that mostly utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience than a pure interstate run. Given the 8.5-hour drive time and the recommendation for 2 days, you'll likely want to plan for at least one overnight stay to make the most of it.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
198.1 miles from Chautauqua, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
262.7 mi
4h 57m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
US 62
15.6 mi
19m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
Southern Tier Expressway
8.7 mi
10m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 262.7 mi, about 4h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,665
Quietest
1 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
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 Chautauqua, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Ames Avenue
0.2 mi·1 min·Ames Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Ramble Avenue
49 ft·3 sec·Ramble Avenue
3
Keep slight right at fork
121 ft·8 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
134 ft·14 sec
5
Turn left onto NY 394
5.4 mi·7 min·West Lake Road
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
8.7 mi·10 min·Southern Tier Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 12Toward NY 60: Jamestown
9
Turn right onto NY 60
0.1 mi·20 sec·North Main Street
10
Turn left onto Marvin Parkway
0.2 mi·29 sec·Marvin Parkway
11
Turn right onto Lakeview Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Lakeview Avenue
12
Turn left onto Newton Avenue
73 ft·2 sec·Newton Avenue
13
Turn right onto Winsor Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Winsor Street
14
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·27 sec·this road
15
Turn slight right onto Allen Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Allen Street
16
Continue on Maple Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·Maple Street
17
Continue on West Virginia Boulevard
0.4 mi·53 sec·West Virginia Boulevard
18
Turn right onto Glenview Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·Glenview Avenue
19
Turn left onto Martin Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Martin Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto NY 60
0.2 mi·17 sec·Foote Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 62
16 mi·19 min·US 62
22
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
23
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Hickory Street
24
Continue on Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·24 sec·Hickory Bridge
25
Turn left onto Crescent Park
0.4 mi·57 sec·Crescent Park
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
30
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
31
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
32
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
33
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
34
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
35
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
36
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
37
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
38
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
39
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
40
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
41
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
42
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
43
Merge onto I 80
263 mi·4 hr 57 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
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.
45
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.
46
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
47
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
49
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
50
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
51
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
52
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
54
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
56
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
58
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
60
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
61
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
62
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
63
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.
64
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
65
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
66
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
67
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
68
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Inwood Street
69
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft·2 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
70
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour-plus drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to leave Chautauqua in the morning and drive for about 4-5 hours, finding an overnight stop before you get too tired. This pacing will allow you to avoid feeling rushed. You'll have 2 planned stops, so utilize those for breaks and to refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially after leaving the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent on the subsequent surface roads. Your estimated fuel cost is around $66, so budget accordingly.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 198.1 miles from Chautauqua, NY, or about 4h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 87 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.1 miles or 4h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 198.1 miles or 4h 31m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 7m
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 Chautauqua, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chautauqua, NY
Aim for roughly 198 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Jamaica, NY
Aim for roughly 198 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Chautauqua, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 262.7 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 46
5 decision points cluster between mile 375.4 and 394.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
375.4 mi into trip|~7h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
375.7 mi into trip|~7h 52m 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
8
384.9 mi into trip|~8h 6m 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
394.5 mi into trip|~8h 21m 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
394.7 mi into trip|~8h 22m 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
$64.08 one way
$128.16 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$69.54
$139.07
premium
$4.85
$75.60
$151.20
diesel
$4.80
$74.79
$149.58
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
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
$64
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$217–$327
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.8
1
$41.59
$19.01
Efficient EV
99
1
$34.66
$15.84
EV Truck/SUV
158.4
1
$55.45
$25.35
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% 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
Chautauqua, NY
Morning
in Chautauqua on Sunday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Smoke
N 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Morning
in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Smoke
NW 6 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
85°F
Waverly, NY
198 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10 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
8h 26m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 382.5
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 382.5
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
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 382.5
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 396.1
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 396.1
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 396.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 17% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 262.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which will likely feel like rural cruising for an extended period. After that, you'll transition to roads like PA 948 and US 62. Expect a lot of local traffic and varying speed limits as you navigate through towns and less-trafficked areas.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
70 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 375.4 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 46 significant decision points across 396.1 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 375.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 375.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 384.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,951 ft25 ft
Total Climb
2,543 ft
Total Descent
3,861 ft
Highest Point
1,951 ft
~84.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,926 ft
Notable High Points
1,845 ft at ~282.9 miles+702 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chautauqua, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Leonia and Teaneck.
Chautauqua is a small village in Chautauqua County, in the Southern Tier of New York State. It is home to the Chautauqua Institution, which has served as a national model for adult education retreats since its founding in 1874.
Top landmarks
•Chautauqua Institution — nonprofit education center and summer resort
•Lewis Miller Cottage — historic house in Chautauqua, New York
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 198 miles on day one.
Expect about $22.55 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 38 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 375.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 375.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 384.9 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 Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.9 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.
