Origin
Chester, NY
Morning in Chester on Tuesday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
67.7 mi
109 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chester, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Chester, NY to Queens, NY is 67.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via NJ 17 and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short distance and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive, primarily on well-traveled highways. Plan for this to be a quick transit, best suited for a single-day trip with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.8 miles from Chester, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| New York State Thruway | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| US 6 | 8.4 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 |
| Liberty Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, NY and Queens, NY.
Start on Railroad Avenue
Turn right onto Bank Street
Turn left onto NY 94
Continue on NY 94
Turn right onto NY 94
Continue on NY 94
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 6; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 4
Continue on NJ 4
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 678
Continue on I 678
Continue on I 678
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
Turn left onto 104th Street
Arrive at destination
For this 1 hour and 36-minute drive, leaving Chester, NY, you have flexibility since it's a same-day trip. Aim to depart mid-morning to avoid the worst of morning rush hour traffic, especially as you get closer to Queens. The fuel cost is estimated at $11, so ensure you have enough for the 67.7 miles. With no specific stops noted, you can easily make this a direct transit, but if you need a break, there are ample service areas along the New York State Thruway. Pay attention to signage for your specific exit into Queens.
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.
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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.8 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Chester, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chester, NY
This is one driving day of about 67.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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.
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 33.8 miles from Chester, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 65.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward US 6 East, NY 17 East: Monroe
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$11.14 one way
$22.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $12.05 | $24.10 |
| premium | $4.92 | $13.12 | $26.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.95 | $29.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $23.23
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
$11
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.48 | $4.33 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Chester on Tuesday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Queens on Tuesday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
63°F
Ramapo, NY
34 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is mostly highway, with 67% of the drive on major roads like NJ 17 and the New York State Thruway. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on NJ 17, covering 14.1 miles. Expect a significant amount of highway driving before transitioning to more local roads as you approach your destination. The highway portion means you'll see frequent exits and merges.
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 1.1 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.7 miles you will encounter 25 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chester, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Nyst: Albany
New York City
Gsp South: Paterson
Fort Lee
New York
Founded 79
The Town of Chester is made of several communities in the Adirondacks around the small hamlet of Chestertown. Other hamlets within the town boundaries include Pottersville, Friends Lake, Loon Lake, and Schroon Lake. Of the three lakes, only Loon Lake has a public beach—for the others you'll have to check into a B&B.
Top landmarks
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 67.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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