Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
40.5 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hillcrest, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Jamaica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Hillcrest, NY to Jamaica, NY is 40.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 1 minute via Palisades Interstate Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a relatively short drive, primarily focused on highway travel, making it a convenient option for a quick transit between these locations. Given its duration, it's best suited for a single-day journey without the need for overnight stays.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Palisades Interstate Parkway | 18.3 mi | 25m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| East Central Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Whitestone Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Van Wyck Expressway West | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hillcrest, NY and Jamaica, NY.
Start on NY 45
Turn left onto NY 59
Take the ramp
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Merge onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 678
Continue on I 678
Continue on I 678
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
Turn right onto Inwood Street
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 40.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Hillcrest, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 39.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NY 59 / East Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.67 one way
$13.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.21 | $14.42 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.85 | $15.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$23
Total
$29
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hillcrest on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
47°F
Inwood, NY
20 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the journey utilizing major expressways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 18.3 miles. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience as you navigate through the Cross Bronx Expressway and the Van Wyck Expressway. The character of the drive is one of efficient transit rather than scenic exploration, designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Palisades Interstate Parkway and Cross Bronx Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near NY 59 / East Central Avenue.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.3 miles (NY 59 / East Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.5 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hillcrest, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward New York, Palisades Interstate Parkway South and Queens.
New York
Palisades Interstate Parkway South
Queens
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 40.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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