Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
48.6 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jamaica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Medford, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Jamaica, NY to Medford, NY is 48.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m via the Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, traversing the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's perfect for a quick day trip or an easy commute. You'll spend most of your time on major parkways and expressways, making for a predictable journey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 35.3 mi | 47m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Northern State Parkway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Service Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Route 112 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Express Drive South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Jamaica, NY and Medford, NY.
Start on Tuskegee Airmen Way
Turn right onto Pinegrove Street
At end of road, turn left onto Liberty Avenue
Turn right onto Van Wyck Expressway East
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 678
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Main Street
Turn right onto Grand Central Parkway
Take the ramp
Merge onto GCP
Continue on N
Take the exit
Turn sharp left onto Shelter Rock Road
Turn right onto South Service Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
Turn right onto NY 112
Turn right onto Long Island Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Jamaica, 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 1.5 and 47.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Main Street, Union Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Grand Central Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Shelter Rock Road South, Searingtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto Shelter Rock Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 112: Port Jefferson, Patchogue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.00 one way
$16.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $8.65 | $17.30 |
| premium | $4.92 | $9.42 | $18.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Evening in Medford on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
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 heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the drive on high-speed roads. Expect a consistent driving experience for most of the 1 hour and 9 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 35.3 miles on the Long Island Expressway, so you can settle in for a good run. The Grand Central Parkway and Northern State Parkway also contribute to this predominantly expressway feel, making it a fast-paced journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Grand Central Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.6 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 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (Grand Central Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jamaica, NY and Medford, NY, road signs point toward Grand Central Parkway East, Eastern Long Island, Shelter Rock Road South and Searingtown.
Grand Central Parkway East
Eastern Long Island
Shelter Rock Road South
Searingtown
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 9m. Total distance: 48.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Jamaica, NY or browse trips ending in Medford, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
