Origin
Clifton, NY
Evening in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton, NY to Jamaica, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 27, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
23.8 mi
38 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Jamaica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clifton, NY to Jamaica, NY is 23.8 miles and takes about 39 minutes via Belt Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its brief duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive perfect for a quick transit, whether you're heading to the airport or navigating within the metro area. Expect to spend most of your time on well-traveled parkways and expressways.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Parkway | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Nassau Expressway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Staten Island Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Tompkins Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Hylan Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Inwood Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Belt Parkway
— 14.5 mi, about 21m
Traffic on I-278
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,452 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~674 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 34 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 Clifton, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Vanderbilt Avenue
44 ft
·
5 sec
·
Vanderbilt Avenue
2
Turn right onto Tompkins Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Tompkins Avenue
3
Turn slight right
307 ft
·
13 sec
4
Continue on Hylan Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hylan Boulevard
5
Turn left onto Narrows Road South
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Narrows Road South
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 278 Toll East: Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto I 278
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Staten Island Expressway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Toward Upper Level
9
Continue on I 278
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
10
Continue on I 278
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Gowanus Expressway
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16
Toward John F Kennedy International Airport, Belt Parkway East
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto BP
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Belt Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 19
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto NY 878
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1N
Toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 678
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway
18
Keep slight left at fork
65 ft
·
1 sec
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
21
Continue on I 678
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Take the exit
504 ft
·
15 sec
Exit 4
Toward Liberty Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
23
Continue on Van Wyck Expressway East
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway East
24
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Inwood Street
26
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tuskegee Airmen Way
27
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 21.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward John F Kennedy International Airport, Belt Parkway East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16
Toward John F Kennedy International Airport, Be...
8
19.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
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 19
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wy...
8
19.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Van Wyck Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kenned...
8
21.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, Van Wyck Expressway
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 1N
Toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, V...
9
21.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rockaway Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.87 one way
$7.74 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $4.19 | $8.37 |
| premium | $4.87 | $4.56 | $9.12 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $5.06 | $10.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.08 | $0.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
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.
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Evening in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
39m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 75% of the 23.8 miles on high-speed roads like the Belt Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 14.5 miles on the Belt Parkway before transitioning to surface roads closer to your destination. Be prepared for urban merging and dense exit traffic as you approach Jamaica.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on Belt Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Belt Parkway and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 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 18 decision points packed into just 23.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Clifton, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Brooklyn, Upper Level, John F Kennedy International Airport, Belt Parkway East and Kennedy Airport.
Brooklyn
1.3 mi in
|
~3m
Upper Level
1.7 mi in
|
~4m
|
via I 278
John F Kennedy International Airport
3.8 mi in
|
~7m
Belt Parkway East
3.8 mi in
|
~7m
Kennedy Airport
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
About the Cities
Starting in Clifton, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Jamaica, NY
Full guide →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.
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 39m. Total distance: 23.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.5 miles on Belt Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area, Governors Island National Monument and Statue Of Liberty 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 Jamaica, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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