Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
4:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Melrose, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
8.8 mi
14 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Melrose, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Elmhurst, NY to Melrose, NY is 8.8 miles and takes about 20m via Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that's more about navigating urban and bridge environments than open highway. It’s a quick hop, ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B without a significant time commitment. Consider this route for its directness rather than scenic exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Robert F. Kennedy Bridge | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Queens Boulevard | 1 mi | 3m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Prospect Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Bruckner Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East 163rd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
— 2.4 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Melrose, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
90 ft
·
7 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 25
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn slight right
216 ft
·
8 sec
4
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Queens Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
6
Merge onto I 278
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto GCP; I 278
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Central Parkway
9
Continue on I 278
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 48
Toward East 138th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on Bruckner Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Bruckner Boulevard
12
Continue on Bruckner Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bruckner Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto East 149th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
East 149th Street
14
Turn right onto Prospect Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Prospect Avenue
15
Turn left onto East 163rd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 163rd Street
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
East 163rd Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NY 25 / Queens Boulevard
Turn left onto NY 25 / Queens Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway,...
8
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan...
7
6.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward East 138th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 48
Toward East 138th Street
6
8.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
East 163rd Street
Turn left onto East 163rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.45 one way
$2.90 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $1.57 | $3.13 |
| premium | $4.92 | $1.71 | $3.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.94 | $3.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.77 | $0.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.23 | $0.56 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Melrose, NY
Late night in Melrose on Sunday
Local time
4:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
7 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
20m 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 features a 32% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced travel and more local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 2.4 miles across the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, offering a brief period of consistent movement. As you transition from Queens Boulevard onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West and then the bridge, you'll notice the shift from city streets to elevated roadways. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' so be prepared for varying traffic conditions and road types throughout the 20-minute journey.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.4 mi on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near NY 25 / Queens Boulevard.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 8.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 20m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 25 / Queens Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): 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 Elmhurst, NY and Melrose, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan and Bronx.
Manhattan
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 278
Bronx
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 278
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 8.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). 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 2.4 miles on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. 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 Melrose, 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: near the start (NY 25 / Queens Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall 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 Melrose, 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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