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Trip from Jamaica, NY to Sheldon, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 32m

Distance

360.4 mi

580 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$59

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
7h 23m ★
6 AM
7h 33m
8 AM
7h 53m
10 AM
7h 40m
12 PM
7h 38m
3 PM
7h 41m
5 PM
7h 52m
8 PM
7h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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neighborhood of Queens, New York City, United States

Jamaica, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sheldon, NY, NY

Sheldon, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Traveling from Jamaica, NY to Sheldon, NY covers 360.4 miles across the Northeast, taking approximately 7 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because this route relies on local roads like Pinegrove Street, Liberty Avenue, and the Van Wyck Expressway East rather than major interstates, it is best suited as a one-day trip for those who prefer an active driving experience. You should budget roughly $59 for fuel to complete the journey. Given the turn-heavy nature of the roads, you will need to plan for at least 2 stops to maintain your focus and comfort. While it is technically possible to complete this in a single day, be prepared for a full day behind the wheel navigating local traffic patterns.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

180.2 miles from Jamaica, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 86 100 mi 1h 56m
I 81 58.1 mi 1h 9m
Christopher Columbus Highway 44.6 mi 52m
Genesee Expressway 32.9 mi 37m
I 380 27.7 mi 30m
Keystone Shortway 17.3 mi 24m
Varysburg Road 10.9 mi 15m
US 46 10.8 mi 12m
Longest stretch: I 86 — 100 mi, about 1h 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jamaica, NY and Sheldon, NY.

1

Start on Tuskegee Airmen Way

303 ft · 17 sec · Tuskegee Airmen Way
2

Turn right onto Pinegrove Street

0.2 mi · 44 sec · Pinegrove Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto Liberty Avenue

435 ft · 13 sec · Liberty Avenue
4

Turn right onto Van Wyck Expressway East

77 ft · 1 sec · Van Wyck Expressway East
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge, Bronx
6

Merge onto I 678

3.6 mi · 4 min · Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 58 sec
Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 495

3.4 mi · 5 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 17W Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan Use the slight left lane.
11

Merge onto I 495

1.4 mi · 2 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 495

1.3 mi · 2 min · Queens-Midtown Tunnel
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward Crosstown, 37th Street Use the slight left lane.
14

Turn slight left onto East 37th Street

1.1 mi · 3 min · East 37th Street
Use the slight left lane.
15

Take the ramp

474 ft · 11 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
16

Turn right

342 ft · 11 sec
Use the right lane.
17

Merge onto NY 495

105 ft · 4 sec · Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
18

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495

3.7 mi · 6 min · Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Toward Lincoln Tunnel Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus Use the slight right lane.
20

Keep slight left at fork

453 ft · 7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Merge onto NJ 3

10 mi · 12 min · NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Merge onto US 46

11 mi · 12 min · US 46
Use the straight lane.
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
24

Continue on I 80W

1.6 mi · 1 min · Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap Use the straight / slight left lanes.
26

Merge onto I 80

45 mi · 52 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway
29

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 46 sec
Exit 293 Toward I 380 North: Scranton
30

Continue on I 380

28 mi · 30 min · I 380
Use the straight lane.
31

Merge onto I 81

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
32

Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17

100 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
33

Keep slight left at fork onto I 390

33 mi · 37 min · Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
34

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 6 Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
35

Turn left onto NY 36

4.3 mi · 7 min · Sonyea Road
36

Continue on NY 36

1.8 mi · 4 min · Main Street
37

Continue on NY 36

1.3 mi · 1 min · Mount Morris Road
38

Turn left onto CR 64

2.3 mi · 3 min · Perry Road
39

Continue on US 20A

7.4 mi · 10 min · Leicester Road
40

Continue on US 20A

4.6 mi · 8 min · East Buffalo Street
41

Continue on US 20A

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Buffalo Road
42

Continue on US 20A

11 mi · 15 min · Varysburg Road
43

Turn left onto NY 77

2.3 mi · 3 min · State Highway 77
44

Turn right onto CR 34

1.5 mi · 3 min · Centerline Road
45

Arrive at destination

CR 34

Trip Plan

To manage the 7.5-hour drive successfully, consider departing early in the morning to beat local congestion and maximize your daylight hours. Since the route involves heavy local road usage, keep your GPS updated to handle the numerous turns efficiently. Planning 2 strategic stops is essential to break up the monotony of navigating surface streets and to keep your energy levels high. Since this is a specialized local route, ensure your fuel tank is topped off before leaving Jamaica, as gas station accessibility may vary once you move away from the expressway. Always keep a physical map or offline navigation backup handy, as the high volume of turns can make it easy to miss a specific road transition.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.2 miles from Jamaica, NY, or about 3h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 79 miles or 1h 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 180.2 miles or 3h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sheldon, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Jamaica, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Jamaica, NY

This is one driving day of about 360.4 miles and 7h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Jamaica, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 100 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Broome County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vestal, NY

180 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 79 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Endwell, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 180.2 miles from Jamaica, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Kantu Peruvian Cuisine Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Forest Hills, New York

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13475310873

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montclair, New Jersey

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 25.7

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

Kantu Peruvian Cuisine Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately

Forest Hills, New York

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13475310873

Visit website

Fiorentini Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 25.7

Rutherford, New Jersey

Hours: 5–9:30 pm

+19737213404

Visit website

Shogun Japan Japanese restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately

Hollis, New York

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13322041966

Visit website

Fusion 27 restaurant and catering services

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour Moderately mile 25.7

Totowa, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–3 pm

+19735955595

Visit website

Hainan

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30

Flushing, New York

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19175637223

Visit website

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 25.7

Montclair, New Jersey

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

Roasted Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 206

Owego, New York

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+16072231652

Visit website

C Squared Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 25.7

Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12014259120

EVolve NY Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 283.2

Bath, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19142874200

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 51.5

Dover, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

PISO EV Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 283.2

Bath, New York

+18332172197

Visit website

EvGateway Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 206

Owego, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19499452000

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 25.7

Belleville, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 231.7

Sayre, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 309

Dansville, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 51.5

Randolph, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Farmland Animal Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 231.7

Chemung, New York

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+16075293371

Visit website

Highland Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour

Brooklyn, New York

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+12126399675

Visit website

Posh Princess Palace

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 25.7

Lodi, New Jersey

Hours: 1–7 pm

+18628997674

Visit website

Catch Air Hasbrouck

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 25.7

Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+12017132156

Visit website

Freedom Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 51.5

Randolph, New Jersey

Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm

+19739897081

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 36

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 17.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
7
8 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 17W Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
8
9 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
8
12.3 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Crosstown, 37th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward Crosstown, 37th Street
8
17.7 mi into trip | ~31m in

Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$59.32 one way

$118.65 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 126 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $64.15 $128.30
premium $4.92 $69.85 $139.70
diesel $5.61 $79.57 $159.14

Estimated Tolls: $16.00

Lincoln Tunnel $16.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$59

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$100–$125

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 126.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 108.1 1 $37.84 $17.30
Efficient EV 90.1 1 $31.53 $14.42
EV Truck/SUV 144.2 1 $50.46 $23.07

Gas CO2

126 kg

EV CO2

42 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Jamaica, NY

Night in Jamaica on Saturday

Local time

9:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sheldon, NY

Night in Sheldon on Saturday

Local time

9:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

14 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 32m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention from start to finish. With a 0% highway share, you won't experience the monotony of long, straight interstate stretches; instead, the route keeps you engaged with constant adjustments and local road navigation. The journey lacks a long uninterrupted stretch, meaning the character of the road changes frequently as you transition between various local arteries. You will spend the entire drive on surface streets, which provides a very different rhythm compared to a high-speed transit route. Stay alert, as the winding nature of this path requires consistent steering and careful observation of local signage.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100 mi on I 86.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 36 significant decision points across 360.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Between Jamaica, NY and Sheldon, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Letchworth Park.

Del Water Gap

38.8 mi in | ~56m

Mahwah

39 mi in | ~56m | via I 80W

Letchworth Park

322.2 mi in | ~6h 31m

About the Cities

Starting 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 7h 32m. Total distance: 360.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 100 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln Tunnel. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Sheldon, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sheldon, NY before the return drive.

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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