Spanning 345.7 miles across New York State, this journey from Covington to Queens takes approximately 5 hours and 57 minutes of driving time. Because this route consists entirely of turn-heavy local roads rather than major interstate highways, you should prepare for a focused, hands-on day behind the wheel. Budgeting around $55 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. While it is technically possible to complete this drive in a single day, the winding nature of the path makes it a demanding trek that requires your full attention. Consider whether you prefer a long, steady push or a more relaxed pace before heading out.
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
171.9 miles from Covington, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 26m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Covington, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on Court Road
13 ft·1 sec·Court Road
2
Turn right onto NY 246
0.9 mi·1 min·Perry Road
3
Turn sharp right onto NY 63
3.1 mi·4 min·Big Tree Road
4
Continue on NY 63
0.7 mi·54 sec·State Highway 63
5
Continue on NY 63
7.5 mi·11 min·Genesee Street
6
Enter roundabout onto NY 63
108 ft·1 sec·Genesee Street
7
Continue on NY 63
1.3 mi·1 min·Genesee Street
8
Merge onto US 20A; NY 39; NY 63
3.3 mi·4 min·Geneseo-Mount Morris Road
9
Continue on NY 408
0.3 mi·32 sec·Mount Morris-Geneseo Road
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
11
Merge onto I 390
38 mi·44 min·Genesee Expressway
12
Merge onto I 86
105 mi·2 hr 2 min·Southern Tier Expressway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
18
Merge onto I 80
71 mi·1 hr 27 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 53Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln TunnelUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi·2 min·US 46
21
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi·1 min·US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
11 mi·11 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy BoulevardUse the straight / right lanes.
24
Merge onto NJ 495
1.1 mi·1 min·NJ 495
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Weehawken, Hoboken, Ferries to New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on South Marginal Highway
0.1 mi·10 sec·South Marginal Highway
27
Turn right onto Boulevard East
0.4 mi·1 min·Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
28
Take the ramp
123 ft·14 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York CityUse the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn right
0.2 mi·57 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel access
30
Merge onto NJ 495
1.6 mi·4 min·Lincoln Tunnel
31
Keep slight right at fork
265 ft·6 sec
Toward Dyer Avenue
32
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft·8 sec
Toward 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden
33
Continue on Dyer Avenue
350 ft·19 sec·Dyer Avenue
Toward 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square GardenUse the left / straight lanes.
34
Turn left onto West 36th Street
1.3 mi·3 min·West 36th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
35
Take the ramp
68 ft·1 sec
Toward I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
2.5 mi·4 min·I 495
37
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 17W-EToward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Merge onto I 495
2.0 mi·2 min·Long Island Expressway
39
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 19Toward NY 25: Woodhaven BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
40
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, RockawaysUse the straight / slight left lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·24 sec
Toward Woodhaven Boulevard, RockawaysUse the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Turn right onto Woodhaven Boulevard
3.9 mi·10 min·Woodhaven Boulevard
Use the right lane.
43
Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard
344 ft·9 sec·Rockaway Boulevard
Use the left lane.
44
Turn slight left onto Liberty Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Liberty Avenue
45
Turn right onto 104th Street
205 ft·9 sec·104th Street
46
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this nearly six-hour drive, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid the fatigue that comes with late-day navigation on local roads. Since there are no scheduled stops in the current plan, you should identify your own intervals for fuel and rest to keep your energy levels high. Keep in mind that the $55 fuel estimate is a baseline, so monitor your tank closely as you move through different regions. Because the route is entirely local, be prepared for varying traffic conditions that can easily extend your travel time beyond the estimated 5 hours and 57 minutes. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so allow yourself extra time to handle the frequent turns and local traffic patterns safely.
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 171.9 miles from Covington, NY, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 76 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.9 miles or 3h 26m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Covington, 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 Covington, NY
This is one driving day of about 343.8 miles and 7h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Covington, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 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 37
5 decision points cluster between mile 213.5 and 339 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
213.5 mi into trip|~4h 16m 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...
8
313.5 mi into trip|~6h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
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 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunn...
8
330.2 mi into trip|~6h 37m in
Take the ramp toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
8
336 mi into trip|~6h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia 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 17W-E
Toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia A...
8
339 mi into trip|~6h 56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boule...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.59 one way
$113.18 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$61.19
$122.39
premium
$4.92
$66.63
$133.27
diesel
$5.61
$75.91
$151.81
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
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
$57
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.1
1
$36.10
$16.50
Efficient EV
86
0
$30.08
$13.75
EV Truck/SUV
137.5
1
$48.13
$22.00
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Covington, NY
Afternoon
in Covington on Tuesday
Local time
12:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Queens, NY
Afternoon
in Queens on Tuesday
Local time
12:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
8 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
7h 9m 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.
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
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...
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...
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...
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
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...
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical and engaging experience, as this route features zero highway miles and relies exclusively on local road networks. You will be navigating a turn-heavy environment that demands constant engagement rather than the passive cruise-control experience found on interstates. The personality of the drive shifts as you transition from the quiet surroundings of Covington toward the increasingly dense urban environment of Queens. Since the entire 345.7-mile distance is comprised of local roads, the drive feels consistent in its pace, requiring you to stay alert through every curve and intersection along the way.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 213.5 miles in near US 6.
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 37 significant decision points across 343.8 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 213.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 313.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 330.2 miles: 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.
Between Covington, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Clifton.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 9m. Total distance: 343.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln Tunnel. 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 41 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 Queens, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 213.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 313.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 330.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Castle Clinton 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 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Queens, NY before the return drive.
