Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
14.8 mi
24 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Melrose, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Jamaica, NY to Melrose, NY is 14.8 miles and takes about 25m via Van Wyck Expressway and Bruckner Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, short trip entirely within New York. You'll be sticking to major expressways for the entirety of the journey, making it a quick and efficient option. Given the brief distance and duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion or as a connector between points in the Northeast region. Plan for minimal time on the road and maximum time at your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Van Wyck Expressway | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Bruckner Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Whitestone Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East 163rd Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Hutchinson River Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Bruckner Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Pinegrove Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Jamaica, NY and Melrose, 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
Merge onto I 678
Continue on I 678
Continue on I 678
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 278
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Bruckner Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Bruckner Boulevard
Continue on East 163rd Street
Turn right onto Reverend James A. Polite Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto East 163rd Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Pinegrove Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 278 West, I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New Haven Connecticut
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Triborough Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Bruckner Boulevard West, Hunts Point Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$2.44 one way
$4.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $2.63 | $5.27 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.27 | $6.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$7
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Late night in Melrose on Sunday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 71% of the route utilizing major expressways. You'll spend most of your time on the Van Wyck Expressway and Bruckner Expressway, which offer consistent speeds and direct travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.7 miles on the Van Wyck Expressway. Expect a driving experience characterized by steady progress and efficient transit, rather than winding scenic byways. The character remains consistent, as you’re primarily navigating a network of interconnected expressways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Van Wyck Expressway and Bruckner Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Pinegrove Street.
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 14 decision points packed into just 14.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Pinegrove Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Melrose, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, New Haven Connecticut and Bruckner Boulevard West.
Manhattan
New Haven Connecticut
Bruckner Boulevard West
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 25m. Total distance: 14.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). 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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