Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Whitestone, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
7 mi
11 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 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Whitestone, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Elmhurst, NY to Whitestone, NY is 7 miles and takes about 13m via Whitestone Expressway, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its brief duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward trip ideal for a quick transit or a connecting leg to a larger journey. You'll primarily be on major expressways, so expect consistent traffic flow typical of urban travel. The entire trip is manageable within a single day, making it a practical option for local commuting or a brief inter-borough hop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Whitestone Expressway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Long Island Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Horace Harding Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 149th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Whitestone Expressway
— 1.8 mi, about 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Whitestone, 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
·
20 sec
Exit 22A-E
Toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on Horace Harding Expressway
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Horace Harding Expressway
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 22C-D
Toward I 678: Van Wyck Expresswway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 22D
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 678
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
10
Merge onto I 678
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 17
Toward 3rd Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Avenue
13
Turn right onto 149th Street
425 ft
·
18 sec
·
149th Street
14
Arrive at destination
149th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 6.5 — 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...
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 678: Van Wyck Expresswway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22C-D
Toward I 678: Van Wyck Expresswway, Whitestone...
9
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 22D
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway North,...
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward 3rd Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward 3rd Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.15 one way
$2.30 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $1.25 | $2.49 |
| premium | $4.92 | $1.36 | $2.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.55 | $3.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| Efficient EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.61 | $0.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.98 | $0.45 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Whitestone, NY
Late night in Whitestone on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
13m 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 predominantly highway-focused, with 68% of the journey on expressways. You'll spend most of your time navigating the Whitestone Expressway and Van Wyck Expressway, which are designed for efficient, albeit busy, travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 1.8 miles on the Whitestone Expressway. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by multiple lanes and moderate to heavy traffic, especially during peak hours. This route prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 1.8 mi on Whitestone Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Whitestone Expressway and Van Wyck Expressway. 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
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 13m.
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 2.3 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.
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 Whitestone, NY, road signs point toward Eastern Long Island and Kennedy Airport.
Eastern Long Island
0.5 mi in
|
~1m
Kennedy Airport
2.3 mi in
|
~4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 1.8 miles on Whitestone Expressway. 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 Whitestone, 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Whitestone, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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