Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.8 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Franklin Square, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Elmhurst, NY to Franklin Square, NY is 12.8 miles and takes about 22 minutes via Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive that's perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this your go-to for a simple, direct transit between these two Long Island communities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Tulip Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Clearview Expressway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Braddock Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jericho Turnpike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| New Hyde Park Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
6 PM
~4,780 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,057 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 30 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Franklin Square, NY.
Start on Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 295
Turn left onto NY 25
Turn right onto NY 25
Turn left onto NY 25
Continue on NY 25
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
Continue on Franklin Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 295: Bronx, Grand Central Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 South, NY 25: Grand Central Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto NY 25 / Hillside Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.15 one way
$4.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.63 | $2.33 | $4.66 |
| premium | $5.05 | $2.55 | $5.09 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $2.82 | $5.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Late night in Elmhurst on Saturday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Franklin Square on Saturday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive features a 54% highway share. You'll spend a significant portion on the Long Island Expressway, with one stretch lasting 4.9 miles. The route transitions from primarily highway to surface roads, meaning you'll notice a change in traffic patterns and speed as you approach your destination. Expect denser traffic and more frequent intersections as you move off the expressway.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Queens Boulevard.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 12.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Queens Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
167 ft
Total Descent
124 ft
Highest Point
147 ft
~7.3 mi in
Elevation Range
125 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 12.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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