Origin
Great Kills, NY
Late night in Great Kills on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Great Kills, 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
47m
Distance
25.3 mi
41 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
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Kills, NY
Illya Goloborodko
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
This 25.3-mile drive from Great Kills, NY, to Elmhurst, NY, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey. Expect to spend about 47 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. Your travel will primarily utilize the Staten Island Expressway, Gowanus Expressway, and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. With a highway share of 68%, the route is designed for efficient travel. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $4, making it an economical option. Given the short distance and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, offering plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 8.3 mi | 13m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| Staten Island Expressway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Manor Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Richmond Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Queens Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Arthur Kill Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
— 8.3 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Kills, NY and Elmhurst, NY.
1
Start on Giffords Lane
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Giffords Lane
2
Turn right onto Arthur Kill Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Arthur Kill Road
3
Turn right onto Richmond Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Richmond Road
4
Continue on Richmond Road
447 ft
·
14 sec
·
Richmond Road
5
Continue on Rockland Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rockland Avenue
6
Turn right onto Manor Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Manor Road
7
Turn right onto Schmidts Lane
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Schmidts Lane
8
Turn left onto Slosson Avenue
260 ft
·
9 sec
·
Slosson Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 278 East: Staten Island Expressway, Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
10
Merge onto I 278
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Toward Upper Level
12
Continue on I 278
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
13
Continue on I 278
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Gowanus Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Exit 26
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 39
Toward NY 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard
142 ft
·
6 sec
·
Laurel Hill Boulevard
18
Turn left onto 65th Place
444 ft
·
16 sec
·
65th Place
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn slight left
423 ft
·
15 sec
21
Turn straight onto NY 25
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn slight right
216 ft
·
8 sec
23
Turn straight onto Queens Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Queens Boulevard
24
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Grand Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 24 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 278 East: Staten Island Expressway, Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 278 East: Staten Island Expressway, Ve...
9
15.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway,...
6
21.7 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
23.8 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward NY 25
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39
Toward NY 25
6
24 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
65th Place
Turn left onto 65th Place
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.16 one way
$8.33 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $4.50 | $9.01 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.90 | $9.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.59 | $11.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.21 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
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
12 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
47m 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 characterized by its predominantly highway-focused profile, with 68% of the route on expressways. You'll experience the flow of traffic on major arteries like the Staten Island Expressway, Gowanus Expressway, and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.3 miles along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. While the route is efficient, it's important to be prepared for typical urban expressway conditions. The road maintains a consistent character for the majority of the journey, emphasizing speed and directness.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.3 mi on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Gowanus Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 15 decision points packed into just 25.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.7 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Great Kills, NY and Elmhurst, NY, road signs point toward Brooklyn and Upper Level.
Brooklyn
5.4 mi in
|
~13m
Upper Level
8 mi in
|
~18m
|
via I 278
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 25.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m 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 8.3 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 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 5.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.7 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton 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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