Origin
Far Rockaway, NY
Evening in Far Rockaway on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Far Rockaway, NY to Elmhurst, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
14.7 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Far Rockaway, NY
Julian Bracero
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
Far Rockaway, NY to Elmhurst, NY is 14.7 miles and takes about 27m via Van Wyck Expressway and Rockaway Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, making it a convenient local journey. The drive offers a mixed experience, combining highway cruising with city street navigation. It's a straightforward hop that's ideal if you're looking for a quick transit between two points without committing to a full day of travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Van Wyck Expressway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Rockaway Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 6m |
| Nassau Expressway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Sheridan Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Long Island Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Beach Channel Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Rockaway Turnpike | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Van Wyck Expressway
— 5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Far Rockaway, NY and Elmhurst, NY.
1
Start on Beach Channel Drive
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Beach Channel Drive
2
Continue on Sheridan Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Sheridan Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn right onto Sheridan Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Sheridan Boulevard
4
Continue on Burnside Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Burnside Avenue
5
Turn left onto Nassau Expressway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Expressway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Rockaway Turnpike
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Rockaway Turnpike
7
Continue on Rockaway Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn straight onto NY 878
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
12
Continue on I 678
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 12B
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 495
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Long Island Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 19
Toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 69th Street, Grand Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
137 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 14.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Bronx
7
12.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12B
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
8
13.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 69th Street, Grand Avenue
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 19
Toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 6...
7
14 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
6
14.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.42 one way
$4.84 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $2.62 | $5.23 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.25 | $6.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Elmhurst, NY
Evening in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
11 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
27m 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 route is a mixed drive, with 54% of it on highways. You'll encounter a 5-mile stretch on the Van Wyck Expressway, offering a taste of faster-paced travel. The journey progresses from what is likely a more coastal or suburban feel near Far Rockaway, transitioning through areas serviced by Rockaway Boulevard and Nassau Expressway, before reaching Elmhurst. Expect a blend of driving experiences, from open highway to navigating more urban arteries.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5 mi on Van Wyck Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 6.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 12 decision points packed into just 14.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Far Rockaway, NY and Elmhurst, NY, road signs point toward Bronx and Rockaways.
Bronx
6.2 mi in
|
~13m
Rockaways
13.6 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in Far Rockaway, NY
Full guide →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 27m. Total distance: 14.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5 miles on Van Wyck 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 Elmhurst, 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 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Elmhurst, 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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