Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Long Beach, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Long Beach, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Elmhurst, NY to Long Beach, NY is 19.3 miles and takes about 34 minutes via Rockaway Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within New York, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a day trip. The route offers a mixed driving experience, transitioning from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach your destination. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for when you want to get somewhere without a lot of fuss or planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rockaway Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 9m |
| Nassau Expressway | 3 mi | 5m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Beech Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| West Park Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Park Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Long Island Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Rockaway Boulevard
— 4.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Long Beach, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
42 ft
·
4 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 495
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Long Island Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 22A-E
Toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 22A
Toward Grand Central Parkway East
7
Merge onto GCP
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Central Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13
Toward I 678 South: Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
9
Merge onto I 678
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway
191 ft
·
10 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway
12
Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto NY 878
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Rockaway Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Rockaway Turnpike
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Rockaway Turnpike
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Nassau Expressway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Nassau Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on Park Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Street
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on Beech Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Beech Street
18
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
19
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Park Avenue
20
Continue on East Park Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Park Avenue
21
Turn left
26 ft
·
1 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 11.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, East...
8
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway
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 22A-E
Toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck E...
6
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13
Toward I 678 South: Van Wyck Expressway, Kenned...
7
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward Rockaway Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
6
11.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Nassau Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto Nassau Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.18 one way
$6.35 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.44 | $6.87 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Long Beach, NY
Late night in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Areas Of Fog then Chance Rain Showers
SE 8 to 13 mph
33% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 1:15PM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
34m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is about 42% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on expressways like the Van Wyck Expressway and Nassau Expressway. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch without exits on Rockaway Boulevard, covering 4.5 miles. Expect to navigate a mix of faster highway sections and slower surface roads as you get closer to Long Beach.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.5 mi on Rockaway Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 15 decision points packed into just 19.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Elmhurst, NY and Long Beach, NY, road signs point toward Grand Central Parkway East and Kennedy Airport.
Grand Central Parkway East
2 mi in
|
~4m
Kennedy Airport
3.6 mi in
|
~6m
About the Cities
Arriving in Long Beach, NY
Full guide →“City by the Sea” · Founded 1623
Long Beach is a city in Nassau County, on an island across from Long Island, New York.
Top landmarks
- • Cobble Villa — historic home located at Long Beach in Nassau County, New York
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 34m. Total distance: 19.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.5 miles on Rockaway Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Long Beach, 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (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 Long Beach, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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