Origin
Head of the Harbor, NY
Morning in Head of the Harbor on Sunday
Local time
10:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Head of the Harbor, NY to Jamaica, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
48 mi
77 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Head of the Harbor, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Jamaica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Head of the Harbor to Jamaica, NY is 48 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via Southern State Parkway, Belt Parkway, and Heckscher State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward and efficient option for getting between these two locations. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 25.4 mi | 32m |
| Belt Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Heckscher State Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| North Country Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Islip Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Joshuas Path | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Hauppauge Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 25.4 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Head of the Harbor, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Bacon Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Road
2
Turn straight onto Hitherbrook Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Hitherbrook Road
3
Turn right onto NY 25A
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Country Road
4
Continue on NY 111
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Hauppauge Road
5
Continue on NY 111
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hauppauge Boulevard
6
At end of road, turn right onto NY 111; CR 76
421 ft
·
8 sec
·
Townline Road
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 111
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wheeler Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 111
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Joshuas Path
9
Continue on NY 111
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Islip Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward SO: New York
11
Merge onto H
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Heckscher State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on SO
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Southern State Parkway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
25 mi
·
32 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
14
Continue on BP
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Belt Parkway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto BP
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Belt Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto BP
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
20
Continue on I 678
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
504 ft
·
15 sec
Exit 4
Toward Liberty Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on Van Wyck Expressway East
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway East
23
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Inwood Street
25
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tuskegee Airmen Way
26
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24 miles from Head of the Harbor, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 47.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
NY 111 / Wheeler Road
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 111 / Wheeler Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
15.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
SO / Southern State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
45.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge
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 19
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whites...
7
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Liberty Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward Liberty Avenue
7
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Liberty Avenue
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.80 one way
$15.60 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $8.44 | $16.89 |
| premium | $4.87 | $9.20 | $18.39 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $10.21 | $20.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Jamaica, NY
Morning in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
10:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
10 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
1h 8m 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 mostly highway, with 72% of the total mileage on high-speed parkways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 25.4 miles on the Southern State Parkway before transitioning to other parkways. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits as you navigate these parkways, typical of the Long Island parkway system.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.4 mi on Southern State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Belt Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near NY 111 / Wheeler Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (NY 111 / Wheeler Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 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.
On the drive from Head of the Harbor, NY to Jamaica, NY, road signs begin pointing toward So: New York along the way.
So: New York
11.7 mi in
|
~20m
About the Cities
Starting in Head of the Harbor, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Jamaica, NY
Full guide →Jamaica is an expansive neighborhood located in eastern Queens. Historically consisting of predominantly black communities, Jamaica now is home to an extremely diverse array of peoples and cultures.
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 1h 8m. Total distance: 48 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.4 miles on Southern State Parkway. 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 Jamaica, 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 6.4 miles (NY 111 / Wheeler Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Jamaica, 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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