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Trip from Forest Hills, NY to Washington Heights, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

27m

Distance

15.5 mi

25 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 25m ★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Forest Hills, NY, NY

Forest Hills, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Downtown Washington Heights, NY, NY

Washington Heights, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Forest Hills, NY to Washington Heights, NY is 15.5 miles and takes about 27 minutes via I 95 and Grand Central Parkway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its brief duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive for commuting or a quick hop across the city. You'll mostly be on major parkways and interstates, so expect typical metropolitan traffic patterns for this segment.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 4.2 mi 5m
Whitestone Expressway 3.1 mi 4m
Grand Central Parkway 1.7 mi 2m
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge 1.3 mi 1m
Hutchinson River Expressway 0.8 mi 1m
Jewel Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Washington Bridge 0.4 mi 1m
Yellowstone Boulevard 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 4.2 mi, about 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Forest Hills, NY and Washington Heights, NY.

1

Start on 70th Avenue

0.1 mi · 32 sec · 70th Avenue
2

Turn left onto Exeter Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Exeter Street
3

Turn right onto 69th Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · 69th Avenue
4

Turn left onto Burns Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Burns Street
5

Turn sharp right onto Yellowstone Boulevard

0.3 mi · 1 min · Yellowstone Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on Jewel Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Jewel Avenue
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Toward Grand Central Parkway West Use the right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward Grand Central Parkway West, RFK Bridge Use the slight left lane.
9

Merge onto GCP

1.3 mi · 1 min · Grand Central Parkway
10

Keep slight right at fork onto GCP

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Grand Central Parkway
Toward Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 9E Toward NY 25A East, I 678 East: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Citi Field Billie Jean King Tennis Center Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

278 ft · 6 sec
Toward NY 25A East, I 678 East: Northern Boulevard, Whitestone Expressway
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward NY 25A East, I 678: Northern Boulevard, Whitestone Expressway Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on Whitestone Expressway

3.1 mi · 4 min · Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 678

1.3 mi · 1 min · Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
16

Continue on I 678

0.8 mi · 1 min · Hutchinson River Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 19S-W; 19N Toward I 95 South, I 278 West, I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New Haven Connecticut Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Exit 19S-W Toward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan Use the slight left lane.
19

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 95 South
20

Merge onto I 95

4.2 mi · 5 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Exit 1D-C-B Toward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan Expressway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 1B Toward Amsterdam Avenue Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23

Turn straight onto Washington Bridge

0.4 mi · 1 min · Washington Bridge
24

Continue on West 181st Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · West 181st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
25

Turn right onto Wadsworth Avenue

237 ft · 14 sec · Wadsworth Avenue
26

Turn left onto West 182nd Street

277 ft · 23 sec · West 182nd Street
27

Turn left onto US 9

229 ft · 4 sec · Broadway
28

Arrive at destination

US 9

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 14.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
1.8 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Grand Central Parkway West, RFK Bridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward Grand Central Parkway West, RFK Bridge
8
3.3 mi into trip | ~8m in | GCP / Grand Central Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GCP / Grand Central Parkway toward Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, USTA Bill...
9
4 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NY 25A East, I 678: Northern Boulevard, Whitestone Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward NY 25A East, I 678: Northern Boulevard,...
10
9.6 mi into trip | ~17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 19S-W Toward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washingto...
9
14.5 mi into trip | ~24m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Amsterdam Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 1B Toward Amsterdam Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.52 one way

$5.04 round trip

$4.13/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.47 $2.73 $5.45
premium $4.87 $2.97 $5.94
diesel $3.75 $2.29 $4.58

Estimated Tolls: $6.55

Whitestone Bridge $6.55

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Tolls

$7

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.6 0 $1.63 $0.74
Efficient EV 3.9 0 $1.36 $0.62
EV Truck/SUV 6.2 0 $2.17 $0.99

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.

Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026

Origin

Forest Hills, NY

Afternoon in Forest Hills on Sunday

Local time

3:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Rain Showers

E 12 mph 97% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Destination

Washington Heights, NY

Afternoon in Washington Heights on Sunday

Local time

3:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Rain Showers

E 10 mph 97% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

27m 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 mostly highway, with 63% of the 15.5 miles on major roads like I 95. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 4.2 miles on I 95. The transition from highway to surface streets will likely occur as you near your destination in Washington Heights, bringing you into a more urban driving environment with denser traffic and more frequent intersections.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.2 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Whitestone Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 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 20 decision points packed into just 15.5 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 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.3 miles (GCP / Grand Central Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: 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.

Between Forest Hills, NY and Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward Grand Central Parkway West, Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, Usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Citi Field Billie Jean King Tennis Center and Manhattan - among others.

Grand Central Parkway West

1.5 mi in | ~5m

Flushing Meadows

3.3 mi in | ~8m | via GCP

Corona Park

3.3 mi in | ~8m | via GCP

Usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

3.3 mi in | ~8m | via GCP

Citi Field Billie Jean King Tennis Center

3.8 mi in | ~8m

Manhattan

9.4 mi in | ~16m

New Haven Connecticut

9.4 mi in | ~16m

Albany

14.4 mi in | ~24m

About the Cities

Arriving in Washington Heights, 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: 15.5 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 (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 4.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $6.55 in tolls one way, starting with Whitestone Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Washington Heights, 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 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.3 miles (GCP / Grand Central Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: 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 African Burial Ground 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 Washington Heights, 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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