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Trip from Gravesend, NY to University Heights, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

45m

Distance

23.1 mi

37 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 42m ★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, United States

Gravesend, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown University Heights, NY, NY

University Heights, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Gravesend, NY to University Heights, NY is 23.1 miles and takes about 45m via Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Major Deegan Expressway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on major highways, making it a relatively quick transit between these urban areas. Given its short distance and duration, this route is best suited for a single-day journey, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway 5.4 mi 9m
Major Deegan Expressway 4 mi 5m
Coney Island Avenue 3.7 mi 7m
Washington Avenue 2.6 mi 6m
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge 2.3 mi 4m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West 1.1 mi 2m
Grand Central Parkway 0.7 mi 1m
Parkside Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway — 5.4 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gravesend, NY and University Heights, NY.

1

Start on Ocean Parkway

99 ft · 8 sec · Ocean Parkway
2

Turn right onto Avenue U

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Avenue U
3

Turn left onto Coney Island Avenue

3.7 mi · 7 min · Coney Island Avenue
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on Parkside Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Parkside Avenue
Toward Parkside Avenue
5

Turn left onto Flatbush Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Flatbush Avenue
Use the left lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Avenue

2.6 mi · 6 min · Washington Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
7

Turn right onto Flushing Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Flushing Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8

Turn left onto Classon Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Classon Avenue
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto Kent Avenue

227 ft · 5 sec · Kent Avenue
10

Turn right onto Williamsburg Street East

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Williamsburg Street East
Use the right lane.
11

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, La Guardia Airport
12

Merge onto I 278

2.0 mi · 3 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 278

3.5 mi · 5 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

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.
15

Merge onto GCP; I 278

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grand Central Parkway
16

Continue on I 278

2.3 mi · 4 min · Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 52 sec
Exit 47 Toward I 87 North: Albany
18

Continue on I 87

4.0 mi · 5 min · Major Deegan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 35 sec
Exit 8 Toward West 179th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on West 179th Street

485 ft · 29 sec · West 179th Street
21

Turn left onto Sedgwick Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Sedgwick Avenue
22

Turn right onto West 183rd Street

508 ft · 22 sec · West 183rd Street
23

Keep slight right at fork onto West 183rd Street

38 ft · 1 sec · West 183rd Street
24

Arrive at destination

West 183rd Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 22.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
5 mi into trip | ~10m in | Washington Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
7.6 mi into trip | ~16m in | Flushing Avenue

Turn right onto Flushing Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
7.9 mi into trip | ~17m in | Classon Avenue

Turn left onto Classon Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
13.7 mi into trip | ~27m 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
22.2 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward West 179th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 8 Toward West 179th Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.80 one way

$7.60 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $4.11 $8.22
premium $4.92 $4.48 $8.95
diesel $5.61 $5.10 $10.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.9 0 $2.43 $1.11
Efficient EV 5.8 0 $2.02 $0.92
EV Truck/SUV 9.2 0 $3.23 $1.48

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Gravesend, NY

Afternoon in Gravesend on Tuesday

Local time

12:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

University Heights, NY

Afternoon in University Heights on Tuesday

Local time

12:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

4 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

45m 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 23.1-mile drive features a highway share of 49%, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced expressway travel and more localized roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.4 miles on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift from the initial expressway segments to the Major Deegan Expressway, offering a varied driving experience. The overall profile is a mixed drive, so be prepared for changes in speed and road conditions.

49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.4 mi on Brooklyn-Queens 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 5 miles in near Washington Avenue.

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 18 decision points packed into just 23.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (Washington Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (Flushing Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Classon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Gravesend, NY and University Heights, NY, road signs point toward La Guardia Airport, Manhattan and Bronx.

La Guardia Airport

8.1 mi in | ~18m

Manhattan

13.7 mi in | ~27m | via I 278

Bronx

13.7 mi in | ~27m | via I 278

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 23.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (49%). 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 5.4 miles on Brooklyn-Queens 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 University 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 5 miles (Washington Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (Flushing Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Classon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, African Burial Ground National Monument and General Grant 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 University 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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